From Dec. 1, citizens of five European countries and Malaysia can enter China without a visa
China has announced that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism
ByThe Associated Press
November 24, 2023, 4:44 AM
FILE – People wearing face masks wait at the international passenger arrivals area at Beijing Capital Inernational Airport in Beijing, on March 15, 2023. China announced Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)The Associated Press
BEIJING — China announced Friday that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism.
Starting Dec. 1, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. The trial program will be in effect for one year.
The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.
China's strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early this year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.
China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan.
In the first six months of the year, China recorded 8.4 million entries and exits by foreigners, according to immigration statistics. That compares to 977 million for all of 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who was in Beijing for talks, welcomed the Chinese announcement and said France has decided in return to allow Chinese students who earn master's degrees in France to stay in the country for five more years “to facilitate exchanges.”
The EU Chamber of Commerce in China expressed hope that more European nations would be given visa-free access soon. In a statement, it called the move “a tangible and practical improvement, which will also increase business confidence.”
The Chinese government has been seeking foreign investment to help boost a sluggish economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook. Foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic.
News Related-
Indonesia's 3 presidential contenders vow peaceful campaigns ahead of next year election
-
Madagascar's main opposition candidate files a lawsuit claiming fraud in the presidential election
-
UK government reaches a pay deal with senior doctors that could end disruptive strikes
-
Poland's president swears in a government expected to last no longer than 14 days
-
Hiam Abbass' Palestinian family documentary 'Bye Bye Tiberias' applauded at Marrakech Film Festival
-
Putin signs Russia's largest national budget, bolstering military spending
-
The spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend truce for two more days
-
Pope Francis getting antibiotics for lung problem, limiting appointments: Vatican
-
Tesla sues Swedish agency as striking workers stop delivering license plates for its new vehicles
-
Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce will be extended for 2 more days, Qatar says
-
Puerto Rico opposition party to hold gubernatorial primary
-
Beijing police investigate major Chinese shadow bank Zhongzhi after it says it's insolvent
-
Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation
-
Central European interior ministers agree to step up fight against illegal migration at EU borders