Civil Aviation

China’s Expanded Visa-Free Access for Six European Countries

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that nationals of six more European countries will now be eligible for visa-free entry into China. These countries are Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

Ordinary passport holders from these nations will be permitted entry into China without a visa for a variety of reasons, including travel, business, visiting family, and transit, starting on March 14 and ending on November 30, 2024. China’s continued efforts to promote international tourism and strengthen relations with European countries are reflected in this extension.

Wang Yi, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted China’s commitment to adopting more beneficial policies, such as easy payment options.

In return, he expressed the hope that other nations will grant Chinese nationals visa exemptions, making international travel simpler and hastening the start of passenger flights between nations. Moreover, Wang emphasized China’s drive to welcome more foreign diplomats to the country on a local level in an effort to promote collaboration and create new economic prospects.

This decision is in maintaining with China’s overarching goal, which emphasizes streamlining admission procedures for foreign visitors and is detailed in the 2024 Government Work Report. China wants to work with the appropriate authorities to support high-standard free trade agreement negotiations and signatures, grow international free trade zones, and guarantee the stability of global supply chains.

Wang also discussed how the effective introduction of visa-free travel for nationals of Malaysia, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain has benefited Chinese travel. With these actions, China has demonstrated its dedication to transparency and international collaboration, as seen by its lowered tariff levels, increased access for foreign investment, and ongoing efforts to improve the world economy.