After three years of closure to the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, China will reopen its borders, both to its citizens and to other countries.
A major change is being felt here in Togo. In this market, the largest in the country, two-thirds of the products come from China. Several traders, like Abdul, welcome the news. Before the pandemic, he and his brothers traveled to China three or four times a year to place their orders.
“When China closed its borders, we ordered our goods via WhatsApp or WeChat. We would send samples and receive them, but the quality wasn’t there. This reopening is a joy for us because we can take our time to travel and get quality products instead of fakes,” explains Abdul.
It's good news for us to be able to go back to China to check things out and do what I want myself. It's fantastic news for us traders, another trader added.
The regulations allowing foreigners to travel to China primarily concern those going for work and business. This means that purely leisure travel is likely to be delayed for some time. But for Togolese traders, there's no immediate need to go to China.
"We want to go to China. Because they say that Covid-19 is over and that the Chinese borders are opening. But we think that there are hidden conditions or taxes and restrictions that we don't yet understand. I would prefer that more courageous traders make the trip and come talk to us and then we will follow."
According to the Chinese health authority, travelers will no longer be required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a center or hotel starting January 8. However, they will still be required to take a PCR test 48 hours before their departure.
