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

More countries around the world are, meanwhile, demanding that visitors from China take Covid tests as the country battles a ‘tidal wave’ of infections

China will also open up its international borders on Sunday, with travellers not being forced to quarantine for the first time since 2020

China claims it has quickly shared Covid data, despite criticism by the WHO and analysts, who say it has been hit by a 'tidal wave' that will rock the economy for months

The Taiwanese firm said resumption of production at its Zhengzhou plant had seen a gradual recovery which has contributed to "double-digit growth"

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.

China’s state media were playing down the severity of the Covid picture in China as the World Health Organization urged openness

The World Bank has moved to alter its mission, lending tools and capacity to help countries shift from coal power to address climate change and other global crises

Many young people have welcomed the change, given they face less threat from the virus, while others have been rocked by the death of family members.

President Xi Jinping called in his New Year's address for more effort and unity as China enters a "new phase” of its Covid fight

The World Health Organization has asked Beijing for more accurate figures on its Covid hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations

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