“China has signed reciprocal visa waiver agreements with six countries, including Singapore, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, providing complete visa waivers to 25 countries,” Tong Xuejun, deputy director of consular affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the 22nd. It was reported by Times.
Deputy Director Tong also added that the country will continue to promote visa simplification initiatives to increase convenience for Chinese and foreign businesspeople.
Prior to Deputy Director Tong’s announcement, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on the 21st that it would advance the conclusion of visa-free agreements with more countries, orderly expand the scope of countries subject to China’s unilateral visa-free policy, expand the areas covered by the visa-free policy, and increase the permitted period of stay. Nine foreign trade support measures were proposed, including an extension.
Regarding this, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lin Jian said that 9 countries, including Japan, were added to the visa exemption list, increasing the total number of visa exemption countries to 38, and the period of stay in China without a visa was also reduced from the existing 15 days. It was announced that it had doubled in size to the 30th.
Deputy Director Tung said that so far this year, agreements have been signed with Brazil and Australia for the reciprocal issuance of 5-year and 10-year multiple-entry visas, and 5-year multiple-entry visas have been issued to nationals of Central and Eastern Europe and other countries. He added that five-year multiple-entry visas have been issued to businessmen from basin countries.
He went on to announce that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) business travel card system, which facilitates travel for Chinese and foreign businessmen in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a new Chinese visa application form with 34% of items optimized and simplified. China’s diplomatic missions and consulates abroad have completely abolished the visa issuance system and further expanded the scope of fingerprint-free entry and exit, while also increasing visa fees by lowering the current rate. It was reduced by 25%, Deputy Director Tung added.
According to official data, the number of foreign tourists who visited China in the third quarter of this year was 8.19 million, an increase of 48.8% compared to the same period last year. Among these, visa-free travel increased by 78.6% to approximately 4.89 million.
Deputy Director Tong said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide more facilities for exchanges between Chinese and foreigners, especially businesspeople, to ensure quality development and high level of openness.”
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How has the recent simplification of the visa application process impacted international tourism in China?
The recent updates from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlight a significant push towards facilitating travel for foreign businesspeople and tourists. Key points include:
- Visa Issuance: Multiple-entry visas for five years have been granted specifically to businessmen from neighboring basin countries. This indicates a strategic effort to enhance economic interactions and business exchanges in the region.
- New Visa Application Form: The Ministry has introduced an optimized visa application form, with a 34% simplification in the number of required items. This change aims to streamline the application process for potential travelers.
- Fingerprint-Free Entry: There has been a complete abolishment of the traditional visa issuance system at Chinese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad, with a broader introduction of fingerprint-free entry and exit protocols.
- Visa Fee Adjustments: Visa fees have seen a notable reduction, cut by 25%, which could further encourage travel to China.
- Tourism Statistics: There has been a reported increase in foreign tourist visits to China, with 8.19 million tourists in the third quarter, reflecting a 48.8% rise compared to the previous year. Visa-free travel has also surged by 78.6%, amounting to around 4.89 million visitors.
Deputy Director Tung emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing exchange opportunities between Chinese and foreign businesspeople to promote quality development and maintain openness in international business relations.