China seeks recognition of its WeChat-based digital health certificates for overseas travel

China has launched an International Travel Health Certificate for its citizens that Beijing hopes might one day be recognised for use as a “vaccine passport” as countries around the world consider ways to reopen their borders as the coronavirus pandemic eases.
The digital certificates, which work on the Chinese messaging app WeChat, include details of a user’s coronavirus test results and whether they have received a Covid-19 vaccine. On March 10, 2021, two days after the launch of the digital document, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing is seeking mutual recognition of such certificates with other countries.