China says it resumes issuing ordinary visas for Japanese citizens

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has resumed the issuance of ordinary visas for Japanese citizens travelling to the country, the Chinese embassy in Japan said on Sunday, in a move that could ease a diplomatic row.

Effective on Sunday, the embassy and Chinese consulates in Japan will resume the examination and issuance of ordinary visas for Japanese citizens to China, the embassy said in a statement.

China this month stopped issuing visas for Japanese nationals after Japan toughened COVID-19 border control rules for travellers coming directly from China.

Japan lodged a protest to China over the suspension of visas for Japanese citizens, asking Beijing to reverse the action.

(Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by William Mallard)