The Chinese embassy in Malawi has confirmed reports that the Peoples Republic of China is facilitating provision of visas to foreigners who have received Chinese Covid-19 vaccines and hold a vaccination certificate to enter that country.

“With a view to resuming international travel to China in an orderly fashion, China provides visa facilitation to incoming foreigners who have received Chinese vaccines and hold a vaccination certificate. This is standard international practice,” says the embassy official.

The embassy says this in reaction to increasing western skepticism over the efficacy and safety of Chinese Covid-19 vaccines.

Western media is reporting that the new Chinese immigration requirement is meant to create a commercial market for the Chinese Civid-19 vaccines which are yet to be declared safe for human use by the World Health Organization-WHO.

But China says nearly 100 countries across the world, including some in Africa, are already using Chinese Covid-19 vaccines and thus the argument on trying to create a market does not hold.

“We learn that some regions do not issue travel permits to people who have received Chinese vaccines. China does not have such policies,” the embassy says.

According to the Chinese embassy in Lilongwe, WHO is soon expected to finish assessment of Chinese Covid-19 vaccines to officially authorize their use.