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China resumes outbound tourism to Russia from February 6 — ministry

In addition to Russia, the list includes Argentina, Hungary, Egypt, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kenya, Cuba, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Fiji, the Philippines, Switzerland, Sri Lanka and South Africa

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

BEIJING, January 20. /TASS/. China will resume tourist trips for organized groups to Russia and a number of other countries beginning February 6, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China announced on Friday.

"From February 6, 2023, travel agencies and online companies across the country, on a pilot basis, are resuming the organization of outbound group tours and the air ticket + hotel service for Chinese citizens to relevant countries," the ministry said in a statement.

In addition to Russia, the list includes Argentina, Hungary, Egypt, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kenya, Cuba, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Fiji, the Philippines, Switzerland, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

On January 19, Guo Yanhong, director of the medical emergency response department of the National Health Commission, said at a briefing that China had successfully overcome the peak of COVID-19 and partially returned to the situation that existed before early December 2022, when the rapid spread of COVID-19 had just begun in the country.

On January 8, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China reclassified COVID-19 from the class "A" extremely dangerous category of diseases to the category of class "B" diseases requiring strict control measures. For example, the former includes diseases such as plague and cholera, the second - SARS, AIDS and viral hepatitis. In this context, the Chinese government has significantly eased quarantine restrictions for those entering the country. The authorities also announced plans to gradually restore travel from China to other states.

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