The Chinese Embassy says it hopes good sense will prevail when it comes to countries like Fiji restricting Chinese nationals from entering our country.[Source:Loop Tonga]

The Chinese Embassy says it hopes good sense will prevail when it comes to countries like Fiji restricting Chinese nationals from entering our country.

This comes after the Fijian Government made the decision last Sunday to impose the restrictions in light of the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak.

All foreign nationals who have been in China within 14 days of their intended travel to Fiji are now not allowed into Fiji.

The Embassy says it is working extremely hard to protect its people and also those from around the world including Fiji.

 “We hope that the Fijian Government should minimize the negative impact on the movement of people as much as possible. The WHO stated that it continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak. There is no reason for measures that necessarily interfere with international travel and trade. WHO doesn’t recommend limiting trade and movement.”

China hopes that other countries will respect this clear recommendation.

Acting Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Yogesh Karan says they have done their groundwork in liaison with the WHO and Fiji’s Health Ministry before a decision on the restriction was made.

“Our decision is not different from what other countries have done, we have done our homework very well, we have done our research in terms of what other countries have done about decisions they have supposedly made and accordingly we have made our posting”

Karan says most areas of trade should not be affected.

“I don’t think trade will be affected because the goods will still be exported and imported, I mean except, perhaps there could be a sanction of meat and other things, but otherwise I think the advise that we have sought from the WHO it’s a well-calculated decision that Fiji has made.”

CNN reports the coronavirus has killed 492 people worldwide, the majority of which are in China, and infected more than 24,500 people across 25 countries.