China rolls out special Asean visa for 10 South-East Asian countries and also adds Timor Leste in list
SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Bernama): China has rolled out an Asean Visa for the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Asean observer Timor-Leste, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The ministry's spokesperson, Lin Jian, said this new programme offers five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible applicants visiting China for business purposes and their spouses as well as children, granting a maximum stay of 180 days.
"For anyone with more specific questions on visas to China, they are welcome to contact our diplomatic and consular missions in their countries,' he said in a statement today.
He said the initiative was to further facilitate cross-border travels in the region, on top of the visa-free arrangement between China and countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and China's 'Lancang-Mekong visas' programme for Mekong countries.
In recent years, he noted that China and Asean have advanced the building of a community with a shared future.
"Visits between the people of China and Southeast Asian countries have been frequent.
"There is a mutual hope to further ease travel between the two sides,' he pointed out.
He also said that the growing 'visa-free list' shows China's firm resolve in expanding high-level opening up.
"The various measures China has taken to ease cross-border travel are all part of China's concrete action to create an open global economy,' he explained.
Adding to the proof, Lin said in the first quarter of this year, China received over nine million visits by foreigners, up by over 40 per cent year-on-year.
"And in the first four months, more than 18,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China, up by 12.1 per cent year-on-year,' he said.
He further said that China will continue to improve entry policies and add more countries to the visa-free list.
"China is committed to greater openness and deeper cooperation for shared prosperity with the rest of the world,' he added. - Bernama
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