People wearing face masks sit in a train in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 12, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

A China-Japan "fast track" for necessary personnel exchanges is expected to fuel bilateral cooperation to beat the COVID-19 pandemic, and get work and production back on track, but so far most companies are avoiding travel out of caution.

Chinese nationals who intend to visit Japan for short-term business purposes, or medium- to long-stay purposes, became eligible to apply for the "business track" and "residence track" as of Monday, the official website of the Japanese Embassy in China showed.

Those who apply for the business track must still present an invitation letter and submit a negative COVID-19 test result conducted within 72 hours before their arrival in Japan.

Travelers eligible for the business track are also required to stay within a limited range during a 14-day quarantine, according to a notice issued by the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai. However, it doesn't clarify the scope of the "limited range area."

Four nations — China, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea — are eligible for the track.

Japanese companies with operations in China told the Global Times that business travel between the two countries is moving forward in accordance with the current epidemic requirements.

"Out of caution regarding COVID-19, all the employees of our company have stayed in China and there is no plan to travel to Japan. In addition, there is no plan for dispatching Japanese employees to China," Mi Jihua, general manager of Asahi Beer China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

An employee with a Japanese visa application agency based in Shanghai told the Global Times that most visa applications the agency has handled recently are related to health and epidemic activities.

"There has been no surge in the number of applications since the fast track took effect, but I figure the policy is sure to facilitate travel between the two countries," the person said.

The fast track comes after the two nations' foreign ministers reached a consensus to facilitate essential travel including for business purposes on the basis of strict epidemic prevention and control, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

"This is a positive step taken by the two countries to promote bilateral personnel exchanges, and support the resumption of work and production, amid the ongoing battle against COVID-19," Zhao said.

"So far, we have not received any applications," a member of the Chinese Embassy in Japan told the Global Times. "It might take some time before the policy shows any effect. Business travelers have to be an granted invitation from local governments in China" to apply for the fast track.