With the exception of the China-bashers, country's reopening welcomed by world

People queue at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point in Hong Kong before traveling to neighboring Shenzhen, South China, Jan 8, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

This is an editorial from China Daily.

China lifted its quarantine requirements for inbound travelers on Sunday. And the sharp increase in the inflow of visitors following the move speaks volumes of China's attraction to the world.

Now the world's second-largest economy is in a better position to help boost the global economic recovery as an anchor of global supply chains and as a main driving force for the global market.

The progressive and orderly reopening of the country, based on science and the actual epidemic situations, is an integrated part of the country's overall optimization of its COVID-19 infection prevention and control policies that was implemented last month.

The country released the 10th edition of its diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 on Saturday detailing the change in approach.

In light of how the epidemic situation has evolved, with the current variants of the virus being more transmissible but less virulent than earlier ones, and with few cases presenting as pneumonia, the disease has been downgraded from novel coronavirus pneumonia to novel coronavirus infection, and it is being managed accordingly starting Sunday.

The previous edition of the protocol was released in March last year. With most cases now able to be treated at home with over-the-counter medicines, the latest edition calls for a treat-it-as-it-is shift of focus for the governments and public health systems, as well as neighborhoods and individual residents, with the emphasis on the use of public health facilities to treat more severe cases.

The change of approach indicates China's reopening to the world and adjustment of its COVID policies are being carried out in a planned and orderly way in light of how the epidemic situation has evolved.

But while many countries, as well as enterprises, industry associations and trade sectors have welcomed China's reopening, as it will give a huge boost to the global recovery, bring the world fresh market opportunities and facilitate world trade and human exchanges, the China-bashers are once again calling black white. Smearing China's adjustment of its pandemic policies as proof that its response has been a "failure", they are crying wolf that China's reopening will spread new variants of the virus to the world.

But that scare story is proving hard to sell.

The surging crowds queuing to enter the Chinese mainland through ports in Shenzhen from the Hong Kong side on Sunday and vice versa, the marked increase of visa applications for overseas travel and inbound visits, the busy airports and high-speed railway stations, and the increasingly bustling commercial zones in major cities across the country all refute the China-bashers' claims, and declare to the world that one of the most dynamic economies and largest markets in the world is not only back, but it has emerged stronger from the test of the past three years.

The pandemic is not yet over. But China's response to it has entered a new stage that provides it with broader space to pursue high-quality development. Contrary to the China-bashers' claims that is good news for the world.