Beijing (TDI): China has announced the rollout of a special “ASEAN visa” aimed at deepening its engagement with Southeast Asia, offering long-term, multiple-entry access to eligible business travelers from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday that the new visa will be valid for up to five years, with stays of up to 180 days allowed per visit.
The policy will also apply to the spouses and children of qualifying applicants.
The move comes as part of China’s broader effort to enhance cross-border mobility and reinforce its commitment to high-level opening-up, Lin said during a press briefing in Beijing.
The new visa scheme was first announced at the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, highlighting Beijing’s emphasis on greater regional integration and economic cooperation.
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“Relations between China and ASEAN have progressed rapidly in recent years towards co-building peaceful and prosperous shared future. The introduction of the ASEAN visa reflects growing people-to-people contact and a shared interest in making travel easier, Lin noted.
When asked whether China would further broaden its visa-free and visa-facilitation programs, Lin pointed to recent steps already taken: As of Sunday, ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay are now eligible for visa-free entry, marking the first time China has extended such privileges to Latin American countries.
Additionally, full visa-free access has been granted to all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, bringing the total number of countries with unilateral visa-free access to China to 43.
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“This is a clear sign of China’s determination to open up further and build an inclusive world economy,” Lin said. “We look forward to welcoming more international visitors to experience the best of China—its products, services, and cultural richness.”
According to official data, over 9 million foreign nationals entered China in the first quarter of this year, a 40 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Between January and April, more than 18,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were registered in China, reflecting growing investor confidence.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
