Coronavirus: business group warns China’s ban on foreigners casts doubt on efforts to open up economy
- EU Chamber of Commerce says denying entry to foreign nationals will have enormous impact on families and businesses in the country
- Restrictions imposed as part of measures to curb spread of Covid-19
International business representatives said on Friday that China’s ban on foreign nationals entering the country would have an “enormous” impact on their operations and cast doubts on China’s effort to open its economy.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said the ban would be an “unprecedented challenge for companies in need of both permanent and temporary talent from abroad, and will keep many families apart”.
“The temporary ban on foreign nationals returning to China will have an enormous impact on many European businesses and families based here,” it said in a statement.
The chamber said it expected that these measures would be constantly reevaluated and adjusted as the global situation develops, so that foreign experts could return and families could be reunited as soon as possible.
Chamber president Joerg Wuttke said cooperation and openness were needed during the Covid-19 outbreak.
