Hey, globe-trotters! 🌍 Big news on the travel front: China is rolling out visa-free entry for 29 countries, including favorites like France and Germany. 🎉
In a move to supercharge international travel, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that citizens from these countries can now explore China without the hassle of applying for a visa beforehand. Say hello to spontaneous adventures! 🛫
What's the Scoop?
Tong Xuejun, an official from the ministry's consular department, spilled the details at a recent press conference. As of now, China has full visa exemption agreements with 25 countries and is extending unilateral visa-free policies to 29 more. 🌟
Back in November 2023, China launched a trial run for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, starting December 1, 2023. Travelers from these nations can enjoy stays of up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits, or just passing through. 🧳
Smoother Travels Ahead
But that's not all! To make the journey even smoother, China has trimmed down the visa application form by 34%, making paperwork a breeze. 📝 No more appointments needed at Chinese embassies, and they've expanded exemptions from fingerprint collection. Plus, visa fees have been slashed by 25%! 💸
Travel Boom 📈
These efforts are paying off. In the third quarter of 2024, China welcomed 8.19 million inbound trips by foreigners, a whopping 48.8% increase from the same period last year. Of these, 4.89 million took advantage of visa-free arrangements, marking a 78.6% year-on-year surge. 🚀
Looking Ahead
Tong emphasized that China will keep refining its visa-free policies to make cross-border travel even more seamless, especially for business travelers. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable journey! 🏮
Time to brush up on your Mandarin and discover the wonders China has to offer! 🐼🇨🇳
Reference(s):
MOFA: China implements unilateral visa-free policy for 29 countries
cgtn.com
