BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) — China has decided to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis, according to the statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s social media account.
From Dec. 1, 2023 to Nov. 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above six countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and transit for no more than 15 days, the online statement said.
People from these six countries who do not meet the visa exemption requirements still need to obtain a visa before entering China, the statement said. It further added that this policy will help promote people to people exchanges, and serve high-quality development and high-level opening-up.
China has proactively released goodwill and unilaterally waived visas for six countries. Good news that is very beneficial for foreign importers.
Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that China has decided to implement a visa free policy for six countries. Starting from December 1st, citizens holding passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit can apply for visas as long as they do not exceed 15 days.
This policy is valid from December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024. During this period, citizens of the six countries can enter the country without a visa and hold a regular passport for 15 days for business, family visits, tourism, and other activities.
It should be emphasized that China has been laying the groundwork for this policy for a long time. China has always emphasized that we are an open and inclusive country, and sincerely welcomes people from all countries to come to China to work and exchange with us. As early as October last year, China announced that it would allow citizens from 53 countries, including the United States, Britain, and France, to apply for a 72/144 hour visa free transit through China. This is a further opening up of the country’s borders on this basis. In the words of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is for the high-quality development of personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries and high-level opening up to the outside world, conveying our confidence in openness.
Another noteworthy detail is that, in addition to Malaysia, which has already responded, the other five countries included in China’s unilateral list are all European countries, and the timing of China’s announcement of relevant measures coincides with the visit of the French Foreign Minister to China. China has repeatedly emphasized that once the door of openness is opened, it will never close, and now China is also fulfilling our promise with practical actions. An open China will surely become stronger and stronger.
