China has denied rumors that the country is extending coronavirus restrictions for another year

The official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, said that he had not heard about the mentioned decision to extend the coronavirus restrictions for another year.

At the briefing, he said that China intends to adjust quarantine restrictions, including on entry into the country, in accordance with the scientific approach and taking into account changes in the epidemiological situation in the world.
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, reported that China intends to maintain COVID-19-related restrictions at the borders for at least another year, despite the fact that the country has already introduced more than a billion doses of coronavirus vaccines.
"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," the diplomat said when asked to confirm the media reports.
However, he stressed that since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has adopted the experience of many countries and followed international practice, and has always adjusted the control measures for the entry of people into the country in accordance with the scientific approach and taking into account changes and developments in the epidemiological situation.
"The pandemic is still spreading, and the virus is constantly mutating. China will continue to comprehensively plan and define various prevention and control measures based on the development of the epidemiological situation and scientific analysis," he said.
At the same time, Zhao Lijian stressed, the Chinese side is ready to actively build a system of healthy, safe and orderly movement between the PRC and other countries, provided that anti-epidemic security is ensured.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the restrictions will remain in place amid concerns about new strains of coronavirus, as well as plans for next year, in particular, the Winter Olympic Games, which will be held in Beijing in February 2022, as well as the upcoming congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).