China unready to reopen land border with Russia due to Covid-19 in Chinese territory - Primorye authorities

VLADIVOSTOK. May 13 (Interfax) - China is not ready to reopen the land border with Russia because of the adverse epidemiological situation in Chinese territory, the government of Russia's Primorye Territory said on Telegram, citing director of Primorye's international cooperation agency Alexei Starichkov.

"The director of the agency has said that the Covid-19 morbidity rates remain high in China. Due to this, serious restrictions are still in place on the movement of people and commodities between different cities, including in the populated localities of Suifenhe, Dongning, etc., located near the border. Therefore, the Chinese side is not yet ready to reopen to Russian tourists. It is very difficult to give any forecasts for the future," the government said.

The rules are so strict that it has proven impossible so far to secure permission for truck drivers who transport cargoes between countries to stay in China for the night. Truck drivers now have to return to their country on the same day when they cross the border.

Earlier, Russia lifted coronavirus-related restrictions on Russian citizens' exit and the entry of foreigners and noncitizens through the land border with China. Air travel with China was resumed on March 14.

As reported, China's zero-Covid strategy acts to limit the spread of the disease by imposing lockdowns and a mandatory quarantine for everyone who has come into contact with people infected with Covid-19.

Throughout the pandemic, China has recorded more than 220,700 cases of Covid-19 and nearly 5,200 related deaths.