Beijing (TDI): China has granted full visa-free access to 25 countries and signed mutual visa-free agreements with six nations, including Singapore, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, a senior official from the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference, Tong Xuejun said that the government is actively working to enhance convenience for business and people-to-people exchanges.
He added that China has also unilaterally extended visa-free entry to citizens of 29 countries, such as France and Germany, as part of broader efforts to ease travel restrictions.
To date, China has established visa-free agreements for various types of passports with 157 countries and regions, Tong noted.
The initiative is part of a larger push to strengthen international trade ties and facilitate economic cooperation.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce introduced nine measures to support foreign trade, including expanding China’s unilateral visa-free policy, advancing mutual visa-free agreements, broadening the transit visa-free policy, and increasing the duration of allowable stays.
In a significant move, five-year and 10-year multiple-entry visas have been made available to citizens from Brazil, Australia, and Central and Eastern Europe.
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Similar arrangements have been extended to business travelers from Mekong River countries, Tong said.
China also participates in the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme, aimed at simplifying travel for business people in the Asia-Pacific region.
Efforts to Streamline Visa Process
Efforts to streamline visa process include launching a revised visa application form with a 34 percent reduction in required items.
Additionally, embassies and consulates have eliminated the appointment system for visa applications, expanded fingerprint-free access, and reduced visa fees by 25 percent.
Official data shows that 8.19 million foreign trips were recorded in China during the third quarter of this year, marking a 48.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
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Notably, visa-exempt entries accounted for 4.89 million trips, reflecting a 78.6 percent year-on-year surge.
The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating greater exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals, particularly businesspeople, to support high-quality development and promote openness.
