China expands visa-free transit at five new Guangdong ports

China has just announced a series of measures to promote people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation with other countries, including resuming the operation of travel agencies bringing Chinese tourists to Canada and extending visa exemption policies for many countries.

Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing on November 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said that China decided to restore the operation of travel agencies to bring Chinese citizens to Canada, based on the Chinese people's demand for overseas travel, Canada's tourism environment and many other factors.

Mao Ning expressed her belief that this will further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Canada, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

“We are willing to work with Canada to create more favorable conditions for people-to-people exchanges, and hope that Canada will reciprocate by providing a safe and comfortable travel environment for Chinese tourists,” she said.

Also according to the spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry , in order to implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (the 4th Central Committee) on expanding and facilitating people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, China will extend the visa exemption policy for citizens of France and some other countries until December 31, 2026, and visa exemption for citizens of Sweden from November 10, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Also on November 3, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced the expansion of the 240-hour visa-free transit program to five new ports in Guangdong Province. These ports are located in Guangzhou, Hengqin, Zhongshan, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail Line.

The new policy will take effect from November 5 and increase the total number of border gates applying this policy from 60 to 65.

The NIA said travellers from 55 countries are eligible for this 10-day visa-free regime, if they meet certain criteria, before continuing their journey to a third country or territory.

This is one of 10 new policies announced by the NIA regarding immigration management to further facilitate international travel for both Chinese citizens and foreigners.

Under the measures, 10 international airports in Tianjin, Nanjing, Chongqing and several other cities will be added to the list of ports that allow direct transit within 24 hours without border checks.

In addition, the NIA also announced that from November 20, foreign visitors to China can fill out entry declaration forms online before arrival, or fill them out on-site on paper or using electronic devices set up at checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Chinese residents are subject to simplified travel procedures from the mainland to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as from Taiwan to the mainland./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/trung-quoc-mo-rong-qua-canh-mien-thi-thuc-tai-5-cua-khau-moi-cua-quang-dong-post1074653.vnp