This Friday, through an announcement, China presented the nine countries that it will add to its list of nations that do not need a visa to enter its territory. With its sights set on reviving a stagnant economy, this measure represents an effort to boost tourism and business travel.
With the addition of these nine, the list now consists of 38 nations that have received visa-free access since last year.
During the coronavirus pandemic, China strictly restricted entry and ended its restrictions long after most other countries. Before the suspension of the program due to COVID-19, only three countries had visa-free access.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jianstarting next November 30, travelers from Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia and Japan They will be able to enter without a visa for a period of up to 30 days.
Japan’s inclusion appears to reflect a recent willingness on China’s part to improve relations between the two countries, which have deteriorated in part due to more forceful speech from Tokyo on the Taiwan issue. The two countries reached an agreement in September in their dispute over the release of treated but still radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.
Japan was one of three countries with visa-free entry before the pandemic, and the government had repeatedly requested an early resumption, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo.
“We hope that the visa waiver measure announced by the Chinese side will contribute to further smoothing our exchanges between Japan and China.”he stated.
The permitted length of stay for visa-free entry has been increased from the previous 15 daysLin said, and for the first time, people participating in exchanges will be eligible.
China has been promoting the exchange between people, including students, academics and othersto try to improve its sometimes tense relations with other countries.
It restored previous visa-free access for citizens of Brunei and Singapore in July 2023, and then expanded visa-free entry to six more countries – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia – on December 1 last year. The program has expanded in installments since then.
Some countries have announced visa-free entry for people with Chinese nationality, notably Thailand, which wants to attract Chinese tourists again.
During the three months from July to September this year, China recorded 8.2 million foreign entries, of which 4.9 million were visa-freereported the official Xinhua news agency, citing what was said by a consular official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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