ACCRA, Ghana — Experts and officials worldwide welcomed the recent optimization of China's COVID-19 prevention and control policy, saying the adjustments are boosting global economic recovery in many respects.

China removed certain COVID-19 restrictions on international passenger flights from Jan 8 to prudently resume the operation of flights.

Paul Frimpong, executive director of the think tank Africa-China Center for Policy and Advisory in Ghana, said in a recent interview that China's recent lifting of some restrictions has sent positive signals and boosted investors' confidence in the world's second-largest economy.

"China is an integral part of the global economy, and tourism is one of the sectors to experience a boom. Not just tourists traveling to China, but the Chinese traveling outside as the Chinese are one of the largest groups of tourists in the world."

Momentum reignited

The new stage in China's COVID-19 prevention and control would also reignite momentum in the global supply chain and support what the rest of the world has been doing to rebuild the global economy, he said.

"The measures have marked economic consequences for the world due to China's role in the global economy."

Frimpong described China's dynamic zero-COVID policy over the past three years as necessary to curtail the spread of the virus and protect human lives.

The economist also commented that the recent lifting of restrictions was well-grounded in scientific data, so China's shift in its policy would not pose any risk of further spreading COVID-19 in the world.

Tanzanian Ambassador to China Mbelwa Kairuki said the recent adjustment of the control policy was made at the right time and well received around the world, including in Tanzania.

"It was a decision taken at the right time because after three years, China has acquired enough experience, scientific knowledge and expertise to deal with COVID-19," Kairuki said.

The timing of the reclassification of the virus is perfect because the current COVID-19 variant is less pathogenic and deadly, he added.

Kairuki said provisional measures to make cross-border travel easier have been well-received in Tanzania and around the world. "We are now looking forward to the resumption of the movement of people to and from China," he said.

"We are optimistic that China's optimization of entry and exit policies, leading to stability of the international industrial and supply chain, will help ease the global economic slowdown."

Cambodia is expected to attract 4.6 million air passengers this year after China's optimization of its pandemic control policies.

"For 2023, we predict that the number of air passengers will be doubled," State Secretariat of Civil Aviation's Undersecretary of State and spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha said.

World Economic Forum President Borge Brende said in a recent interview that China's new response will "lead to stronger and more prosperous growth, even if this immediate situation is a bit challenging".

China's active adjustments to its COVID-19 response will lead to growth in industrial output, investment and service industries such as tourism, he added.

Growth will continue in China, Brende said. "Overall, for late 2023 and 2024, we're very optimistic on growth in China," he said.