China’s immigration authorities recorded 499 million inbound and outbound passenger trips during this period, a 8.7% increase from the previous year, Global Times reported.
An official from the National Immigration Administration stated that recent measures have made it easier for foreign nationals to visit China, significantly cutting clearance times for travelers at ports of entry, Xinhua News Agency reported.
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People walk along Nanjing Pedestrian Road, a main shopping area in Shanghai, China, May 5, 2021. Photo by Reuters |
Last year, China extended its visa-free entry for 45 countries, many in Europe, South America and the Gulf region besides Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, until the end of 2026, AP reported.
The Chinese government plans to continue improving immigration policies and border inspection procedures, enhancing government services and speeding up clearance for tourists.
China recently added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to its 240-hour visa-free transit program, bringing the total number of countries eligible for this policy to 57.
Effective from Aug. 20, citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports and interline passenger tickets with confirmed dates and itineraries bound for a third country or region may enter China through any of the 65 ports across the country and stay up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa, according to the National Immigration Administration.