The Chinese Embassy in Manila has confirmed on Tuesday (Sept 7) that the work has been initiated for establishing a “fast lane arrangement” between the Philippines and China to facilitate essential business and official travel between two countries, amid the ongoing critical COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese consulate said in a statement that this is part of the two countries’ commitment to advance an ongoing government to government project that has recovered 80 per cent of its production capacity.

The statement further said, “Both sides are working closely to establish a ‘fast lane’ for the movement of the key personnel and trying their utmost to help the projects resume full capacity.”

The embassy said that during a video conference with Philippine Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez on Monday (Sept 7), Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian praised the smooth implementation of the projects under Manila’s large-scale “build, build, build” infrastructure plan and Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

On the eve of 122nd anniversary of the Philippines’ Independence Day, President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to seek bilateral cooperation under the new normal. Xi Jinping promised that the Philippines will get priority once China develops a vaccine against the coronavirus.

In early June, China established a fast lane with Singapore, which was its first travel agreement with a Southeast Asian country. It started with six provinces of China and municipalities of Singapore that will be expanded amid the discussions on the gradual resumption of commercial flight services.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in China stated that the country has similar arrangements with Germany and South Korea and is negotiating with other countries as well.

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Philippines, the country has reported a total number of 2,48,947 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 4,066 patients have lost their lives due to virus. However, 1,86,058 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Thursday (Sept 10).

In terms of the number of infections and deaths, Philippines ranks second in Southeast Asia countries, after Indonesia.

Since late March, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BOI) had temporarily banned foreigners from entering into the country to curb the import and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only Filipinos and foreign diplomats were allowed to enter.