A political advisor, Zheng Chunyang, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, has proposed that China should broaden the scope of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries, streamline visa processing, and implement convenient policies for foreign arrivals. This initiative aims to bolster international exchanges and deepen the country’s commitment to openness.
Zheng emphasized the importance of facilitating international personnel exchanges amidst a volatile global landscape. He contends that such facilitation will accelerate the attraction of global resources, fostering increased participation in international economic cooperation. He believes this will lead to the development of new competitive advantages for China on the global stage.
Research conducted by Zheng revealed persistent obstacles faced by foreign arrivals to China, including complex and lengthy visa application procedures, as well as inadequate international facility services. Examples cited include the absence of multilingual public signage in many Chinese cities and insufficient international medical service institutions.
Despite existing cooperation agreements with multiple countries, Zheng highlighted that international exchange activities remain predominantly short-term and temporary projects. He underscored the need to enhance both the quantity and quality of international talent exchange programs.
In response to these challenges, Zheng intends to propose measures during the upcoming two sessions to address barriers hindering international exchanges between China and other nations. His proposals include optimizing and simplifying the visa application process to facilitate smoother and more efficient travel. He also advocates for the widespread adoption of self-service clearance devices, mobile apps, and other technological innovations to expedite border crossings.
Zheng further suggests the implementation of multilingual signage in cities and encourages hospitals to offer international outpatient services. He envisions expanding the success of the visa-free policy implemented in Hainan Province to more cities nationwide, aiming to elevate China’s level of openness.
China recently eased its visa-free policy for visitors to its southern island province of Hainan, allowing nationals from countries such as Russia, France, the US, Brazil, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates to enter for various purposes without a visa. Eligible visitors can now stay in Hainan for up to 30 days.
Moreover, China announced a visa-free entry initiative for holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, facilitating cross-border people-to-people exchanges.
Efforts are underway to streamline the arrival process for foreigners entering China, including raising transaction limits for overseas travelers using mobile payments and simplifying identity verification procedures.
Another political advisor, Wang Yu, chairman of Spring Airlines, proposed leveraging global events and exhibitions to enhance China’s brand visibility and attract visitors worldwide. This strategy aims to not only boost inbound tourism but also attract foreign investment and encourage expatriates to settle in China, thereby countering negative portrayals of China in foreign media.
