China signs comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreement with 24 countries

China has signed comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreements with 24 countries, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a more convenient and inviting environment for international travelers, said Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning at a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

During the week-long National Day holiday that just concluded, inbound travel orders surged by approximately 60 percent from the previous year, with numerous Chinese cities emerging as popular destinations for tourists worldwide, as reported by various travel platforms.

"The increasing popularity of 'China tour' reflects the country's growing appeal and openness. China has now enjoyed comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 24 countries, implemented visa-free entry policies for 16 countries, and offered 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit for citizens of 54 countries. The immigration procedure for foreign tourists to China has been continuously simplified, and their experiences within the country have been constantly optimized. As far as I know, Beijing has introduced the 'Service Guide for First-time Visitors to Beijing', which systematically provides information on various life services. Shanghai has equipped taxis and metro stations with international card payment devices, and eight cities, including Chengdu and Xi'an, are also piloting new measures to facilitate payment for visitors to China," said Mao. "China will open up further to the world and enhance entry-exit facilitation. We welcome more friends from around the world to travel to China, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and feel the charm of China," said Mao.

China signs comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreement with 24 countries

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, on Tuesday pledged to closely monitor the energy supply, so as to ensure steady supply of power and heating, as the country braces for the peak winter period of high electricity, heating and gas consumption.

Li Chunlin, deputy director of the NDRC, told the media that power plants with a coal reserve of over 200 million tonnes can meet the nation's energy needs for an average of 30 days, which is at a historically high level for this time of year, adding that the northeastern region has ample winter coal stockpiles.

As of the end of August, the national installed generating capacity had reached 3.13 billion kilowatts, with renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, wind, and solar, accounting for more than half of the total capacity, Li said.

Despite increasing uncertainties in power supply, the NDRC will take measures in intelligent scheduling and enhanced inter-provincial cooperation to guarantee a stable and reliable electricity supply.

In the natural gas sector, resource availability is also robust, with peak-shaving storage capacity up by 8 billion cubic meters from the previous year, said Li, emphasizing the need for optimal storage before winter arrives.

Looking ahead, the NDRC will continue to enhance monitoring and analysis to maintain the stability of energy supply, according to Li.

China ensures stable energy supply ahead of winter peak