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▲The first passenger to enter Beijing using the visa-free policy implemented for six countries. (Photo by Xu Caiqing)On December 1, 2023, China welcomed 2,029 international visitors from six countries who entered the country using the visa-free policy announced by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on November 24.The number marks a 12.54 percent hike in international arrivals from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
▲The immigration management police at Zhejiang's Ningbo Airport explains the visa-free entry policies to a passenger. (Photo by Zhang Jiaqi)
The visa exemption policy, allowing ordinary passport holders from these countries to enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days, is the latest effort to boost personnel exchanges and cooperation, said the NIA.The first day of the policy drew the highest number of entries from Malaysia with 1,113, while France experienced a significant surge in arrivals, registering a 52.31 percent increase. The overall number of arrivals from all six countries saw an over 12 percent increase from the previous day.▲The immigration officer at the Liantang Border Inspection Station in Shenzhen guides passengers who are taking advantage of visa-free entry to fill entry cards. (Photo by Zhao Weijun)The policy is in effect for one year, from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, and is part of broader moves to foster people-to-people exchanges.
To facilitate the new policy, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has taken measures to ensure efficient customs clearance. This includes optimized personnel deployment and enhanced on-site guidance to ensure the smooth operation of all border inspection stations.▲Kunming Port welcomed the first batch of passengers from six countries listed in the visa-free entry policy. (Photo by Liang Jingwen)Public security authorities have been directed to provide convenient stay arrangements in compliance with laws and regulations for those arriving under the visa exemption.
The policy is expected to facilitate cross-border travel and exchanges further. For instance, Malaysia aims to attract 5 million Chinese tourists annually after implementing a new one-year visa-free regime. The two countries also plan to increase the number of direct flights to boost tourist numbers. However, travelers from China and India must still adhere to the 30-day limit and cannot use the visa-free policy for work or study purposes.
Reference: BNN, CCTV4, NIA
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