Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Russia, Cuba and a range of other countries are all expected to see group tours from China, starting early next month

The toll update, from China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, comes amid doubts over Beijing's data transparency and is very low by global standards.

Xi voices concern for farmers as travel ramps up for holiday season, amid warnings that deaths – said to top half a million in the current wave – will peak over coming weeks

Country saw 2.9% growth in fourth quarter, but the overall economy remains weak and is not expected to pick up till the second quarter

Millions of migrant workers began flocking to train stations and airports in the country's big cities on Monday for trips to their home towns, despite fears for elderly people in rural areas

Albanese government says it will release $414 million for "trade-exposed" industries, such as miners, manufacturers and those generating oil and gas, to help them cut emissions

Thailand has scrapped a new requirement that tourists have to show proof of Covid vaccinations, which enraged tourism operators days before Chinese visitors were due to return

Beijing is under pressure to finalise a licensing deal on production of Paxlovid before the Lunar New Year, when millions of Chinese will travel to rural areas to visit their families

Concern about Beijing's Covid data has aggravated ties with governments that said visitors from China must undergo Covid tests before arriving in their country.

US officials said on Tuesday they may impose new Covid regulations for people on flights from China because of concerns over the "lack of transparent (health) data" from Beijing

Hospitals have been swamped by people seriously ill with Covid, while the country has also seen a rush of queries from people wanting to travel again, as quarantine rules will end on January 8

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said all travellers from China will be tested for Covid-19 on arrival because people are getting worried about the huge surge of Covid on the mainland