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2022-11-25 | All chapters

European Chamber Comments on the 20 Measures to Optimise the COVID-19 Containment Policy

On 23rd November, the European Chamber submitted comments to the Ministry of Commerce and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade regarding the newly released Notice on Further Optimising the Prevention and Control Measures of the Covid-19 in a Scientific and Precise Manner (also known as the ‘20 Measures’, aimed at optimising China’s COVID-19 containment policy). Please find below a summary of the Chamber’s comments.

The European Chamber welcomes the introduction of the 20 Measures and believes that if implemented properly they represent a good step towards returning life to normal. However, the European Chamber is concerned that the measures have been introduced without proper preparation by local governments who appear to have not been well informed prior to their release. The 20 Measures have been implemented differently in different provinces, cities or even districts in China, and different criteria or rules have been applied regarding the suspension of business. Instead of issuing official written notice, local governments have in many cases told companies verbally or via unofficial channels to shut down operations with very short notice. This inconsistent implementation has created a great deal of uncertainty among the public at large, and has led to a significant drop in business confidence.

The European Chamber welcomes the cancellation of the ‘circuit breaker’ policy for international flights. However, the cancelling of this policy alone will not lead to an immediate increase of international flights. Other relevant policies, as well bilateral negotiations between China and the destination countries, need to start as soon as possible to support the resumption of international travel.

The European Chamber believes it is important that the 20 Measures are interpreted and implemented in a consistent manner across the country, and that China should continue to remove stringent COVID-control measures to the greatest extent possible based on scientific evidence and strive to get life back to normal.

Recommendations to improve implementation of the 20 Measures:

  • Promote vaccination among the entire population—particularly the elderly and those that are more vulnerable—to safeguard public health.
  • Promote and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide education campaign about COVID-19 that follows the latest scientific evidence, in order to alleviate any anxiety about potential infection and to illustrate that being fully vaccinated seriously reduces the risk of serious disease.
  • Introduce a national, unified health code system to facilitate domestic travel in China.
  • Communicate relevant regulations to all stakeholders in a timely manner, and ensure the 20 Measures are consistently implemented by local government and communities.
  • Refrain from applying quarantine requirements retroactively.
  • Avoid the enforcement of lockdowns and the widespread suspension of business, which is not in line with the 20 Measures.
  • Provide a clear timeline for a series of measures—including the rollout of mRNA vaccinations and antiviral drugs to the population at large—that can provide certainty and predictability, and facilitate the move towards full opening of the country.

 

 

1123日,中国欧盟商会向商务部和中国贸促会提交了对《关于进一步优化新冠肺炎疫情防控措施科学精准做好防控工作的通知》(下文称二十条措施)的意见。

中国欧盟商会对于二十条措施的发布表示欢迎,认为这是让人民生活恢复正常的具有积极意义的重要一步。但中国欧盟商会看到,由于二十条措施的出台并未给予地方政府足够准备时间,让他们对新措施形成充分认识并做好准备工作。这导致这些举措在全国各省市地区的贯彻落实缺乏一致性。各地政府对暂停企业经营活动采取了不同的标准和规则。有些地方政府没有通过官方途径发布新政策,而是在非常短的时间内通过非官方渠道口头通知/要求企业关停经营生产。政策实施的不一致在广大公众中造成了很大的不确定性,并导致商业信心大幅下降。

此外,中国欧盟商会对于取消国际航班熔断政策表示欢迎。然而,仅仅取消熔断仍不足以推动国际航班在短时间内迅速增加,应尽快出台和落实配套政策,并启动中国和目的地国家的双边谈判,从而切实有效地推动国际差旅恢复。

中国欧盟商会认为,确保二十条措施在全国范围内得到统一明确和贯彻落实,这一点至关重要。 中国应继续坚持科学、精准防疫的理念减少出台严重影响人民生活的严格的防疫措施,努力让生产生活尽快恢复正常。

为此,我们提出以下支持落实“二十条措施”的建议 ,供参考

  • 开展鼓励居民尤其是老年人和脆弱群体接种新冠疫苗的宣传, 以保障公众健康。
  • 根据最新的科研成果,在全国各级开展和推广内容统一一致的新冠知识教育活动,以减轻对感染新冠肺炎的焦虑心理,并增强对接种全程疫苗可显著降低重症风险的信心。 
  • 推出全国统一的健康,使中国境内跨省市差旅更加顺畅。
  • 确保地方政府和社区及时理解相关法规,以便他们落实二十条措施时保持一致性。
  • 防疫防控政策“不溯及既往”
  • 停止不符合二十条措施的大规模停业/封控。
  • 公布时间计划表,按时间顺序列出每一步措施,以提供确定性和可预测性, 例如:mRNA 疫苗接种、新冠治疗药物等计划,推动中国尽早打开国门和人民生活恢复常态。