The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the Singapore government for its Dec. 11 decision to lift border restrictions on visitors from Taiwan, with the move expected to help bring people-to-people exchanges back to normal.
The measure serves as recognition by the Singapore government of Taiwan’s success in managing COVID-19, the MOFA said, adding that it will help promote trade between the two sides.
In an official statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said Taiwan’s comprehensive public health monitoring system has proven effective at controlling the spread of coronavirus. The risk of importing the disease from Taiwan is low given that there were zero local cases in the past 28 days, it added.
Effective immediately, visitors from Taiwan who have not traveled internationally in the previous 14 days can apply for an Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore on or after Dec. 18. Passengers will undergo a polymerase chain reaction test upon arrival at the airport, with negative results exempting visitors from home quarantine requirements.
According to the MOFA, the measure will enable the two partners to build trust in each other’s pandemic response, paving the way for the establishment of a travel bubble in the future.
The government will continue monitoring the situation and assessing results based on the disease-prevention protocols set out by the Central Epidemic Command Center, the MOFA said, reminding travelers to comply with all relevant regulations after entering Singapore.
When coronavirus hit Singapore earlier this year, Taiwan prioritized the export of melt-blown nonwoven fabrics, a key material for making surgical masks, and donation of N95 masks to the New Southbound Policy partner country, the MOFA said. The government will continue working with Singapore to expand the two sides’ robust relationship in areas such as culture, investment, tourism and trade, it added.
The NSP is a key plank in the government’s national development strategy. It seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (SFC-E)
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