China has achieved full mutual visa exemption with 25 countries, while rolling out unilateral visa-free policies for 29 countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Tong Xuejun, deputy director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Consular Affairs, said at a press conference in Beijing that the 25 countries having full mutual visa exemption arrangement with China include the six ones that signed such agreements with China this year.
"Over the past year, we have signed mutual visa-free agreements with six other countries: Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Georgia and the Solomon Islands. China has so far signed such agreements with a total of 25 countries. Following the practice of some other countries, we have rolled out unilateral visa-free policies for 29 other countries, including France and Germany. Up to now, China has concluded visa-free agreements covering different passport types with 157 other countries and regions," he said.
Tong said China has introduced a new simplified visa application form for foreigners and its overseas embassies and consulates have lifted the requirement for visa-processing reservation and expand the range of foreigners exempt of fingerprint collection, effectively facilitating their entry into China.
So far this year, China has reached reciprocal arrangements with other countries like Brazil and Australia on 5-year and 10-year multi-entry visas, and issued five-year multiple-entry visas to people from Central and Eastern European countries, while taking an active part in the APEC Business Travel Card program and providing convenience for businesspeople exchange in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
"Next, we will create more convenience for exchanges between Chinese and foreigners, especially businesspeople, so as to serve high-quality development and high-level reform and opening-up," Tong said.
China signs mutual visa-free deals with 25 nations: official
