The mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Kazakhstan has spurred a spike in cross-border travel one year after its implementation as it facilitates cross-border tours for people from both countries.
Sunday marks the first anniversary of the agreement.
Over the past year, bustling scenes have unfolded at various ports in northwest Chin's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region which borders Kazakhstan, with a boom in travelers moving between the two countries for business, tourism and family visits.
Since the mutual visa exemption agreement kicked in on November 10, 2023, people of both countries have enjoyed streamlined travel for business and leisure.
"I'm visiting my husband in Kazakhstan. I find this visa-free policy especially convenient for long-distance family visits," said a Chinese tourist.
"The mutual visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan is incredibly convenient for cross-border commerce, saving time and making business trips much easier and faster for us in doing cross-border business. It is really convenient for traveling and taking business trips," said a Kazakh businessman.
Over the past year, 35,000 Kazakh visitors have entered China through the port of Urumqi Diwopu International Airport alone for sightseeing and business activities, boosting tourism and trade of the two countries.
"Since the implementation of the agreement, we've seen a palpable increase in visitors and business people, with over 130 flights per month between the two countries," said Zhao Hu, an officer of Urumqi's Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station.
The port of Khorgos has also experienced staggering traffic peaks this year, with daily crossings averaging around 3,700 travelers and exceeding 6,800 on the busiest days.
As of Sunday, over one million people had passed through the Khorgos highway port this year, a record high.
Data from Xinjiang's border inspection authorities shows a total of almost 1.93 million cross-border travelers have passed through Xinjiang's ports since the visa-free agreement took effect, marking a whopping 129.18-percent surge from the previous year.
China-Kazakhstan visa-free agreement catalyzes travel boom in 1st year
