China dropped quarantine for visitors on Sunday
Latest move in easing that has let virus run free
Several nations demand COVID tests from China travellers
Chinese stocks, yuan rally on growth hopes

BEIJING, Jan 9 Reuters People joined long queues outside immigration offices in Beijing on Monday, eager to renew their passports after China dropped COVID border controls that had largely prevented its 1.4 billion residents from travelling for three years.

Sunday39;s reopening is one of the last steps in China39;s dismantling of its zeroCOVID regime, which began last month after historic protests against curbs that kept the virus at bay but caused widespread frustration among its people.

Waiting to renew his passport in a line of more than 100 people in China39;s capital, 67yearold retiree Yang Jianguo told Reuters he was planning to travel to the United States to see his daughter for the first time in three years.

She got married last year but had to postpone the wedding ceremony because we couldn39;t go over to attend it. We39;re very glad we can now go, Yang said, standing alongside his wife.

China39;s currency and stock markets strengthened on Monday, as investors bet the reopening could help reinvigorate a 17 trillion economy suffering its lowest growth in nearly half a century.

Beijing39;s move to drop quarantine requirements for visitors is expected to boost outbound travel, as residents will not face those restrictions when they return.

But flights are…