Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 12, Title: 1200.6% year-on-year! The single-free policy helps "check-in China"

Xinhua News Agency reporters Dong Xue and Lu Junyu

So far, they have unilateral visa exemptions to 38 countries, and the visa exemptions for transit to 54 countries have been extended to 240 hours; in 2024, the total number of foreigners coming to China through the unilateral visa exemption policy increased by 1,200.6% year-on-year... "check-in China" continues to become a new international trend.

Visa-free has become a shining "policy business card" for China's opening up to the outside world.

Since December 2023, China has successively piloted unilateral visa-free policies to 38 countries including France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, and has achieved remarkable results in promoting foreigners to come to China.

In 2024, the total number of foreigners coming to China through the single-free policy was as high as 3.391 million, accounting for 13.8% of the total number of foreigners entering the country in the whole year (excluding border residents).

Faced with the enthusiasm of the world, China responded sincerely:

From November 2024, the visa-free stay period will be extended from the 15th to the 30th, and the entry will be expanded to business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanges and transit.

At present, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments have further optimized the visa application process: Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have completely cancelled visa application appointments; short-term applicants who apply for one or two entry and stay within 180 days are exempted from fingerprint collection; simplified the filling of the application form for 34%; and 25% of the fees are phased according to the current standards. Foreigners can apply for visas to China "as long as you go" to achieve "no one-time trip".

Selli, a Bosnian who holds a work visa (Z-word visa), has been in China for more than half a year. "I send the application information to the embassy and apply online." He said that the whole process from applying for a visa to entering China was beyond imagination.

When the visa-free stay period extended to the 30th day encounters the Chinese Spring Festival when applying for World Heritage successfully, "China Travel" has become a hot word that has become popular all over the world.

During the Spring Festival, Frenchman Arnault boarded the China-Laos Railway from Kunming and truly felt the celebration and excitement of traditional Chinese festivals. "This is my first time taking a train in China. Although it is the Spring Festival travel rush, the ticket checks are in order, and the luggage on the train is well placed, making the ride experience very comfortable," said Arnault.

Data shows that during the Spring Festival holiday of the Year of the Snake (January 28 to February 4), China UnionPay and Network Communications handled payment transactions for overseas personnel coming to China, an increase of 124.54% year-on-year. Many places and departments have also introduced supporting measures to pilot a number of services such as "buy now and refund" departure tax refunds.

"Before coming, China was a mystery, but after coming, it became a fan of China" has become the voice of many foreign tourists.

"The food here is delicious, the people are enthusiastic and friendly, everything is worth the money. I will recommend friends to come to China." Rich and his companions came to Yunnan and praised the local area.

The previously released "Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment in 2025" lists "accelerating negotiations on mutual visa exemption agreements and continuing to steadily expand the scope of unilateral visa-free countries" as an important content. It can be seen that at the same time, the visa-free policy also plays an important role in further expanding opening up and attracting foreign investment.

China, which opens its arms, has also received warm invitations from the people of the world:

27 countries including Thailand, Singapore, the UAE, and China have reached a comprehensive mutual visa exemption agreement, and the United States, Australia and other countries have also reached mutual visa reciprocity arrangements with China for 10 years or 5 years. Nearly 70 countries and regions have given unilateral visa exemption or visa on arrival to Chinese citizens.

Behind the ever-expanding visa-free scope and more convenient exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel is China's "two-way rushing" to embrace the world and get closer to China.

Let's start towards an open, confident, civilized and safe vibrant China!