China recently offered a clue as to how international travel would return to normal post-COVID-19.

The country’s new "international travel health certificate", sometimes colloquially referred to as a "vaccine passport", was launched on Monday March 8 in the form of a WeChat mini-program.

An individual’s information regarding vaccination, nucleic acid test result and more can be registered via the mini-program. In future, individuals will supposedly show the "certificate" to travel overseas without any restrictions.

Here are some key features:

* An encrypted QR will allow relevant overseas authorities to verify the authenticity of the individual’s information.

* The certificate will show an individual’s nucleic acid test result, serum antibody test result and whether or not said individual has been vaccinated.

* The mini-program can be used by returnees to China from abroad and those traveling abroad from China.

* A paper version of the certificate can be saved and printed out if necessary.

Whether or not China’s "International Travel Health Certificate" is truly a "vaccine passport" depends on whether it is accepted by relevant authorities overseas.

At the annual Two Sessions in Beijing, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) suggested that in future, the "health certificate" should replace mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers from overseas.

But for now, this is just a proposal.