Latest news with #visaexemption
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's visa-free push for Gulf nations, ‘cure' for Musk's Hyperloop: SCMP daily highlights
Catch up on some of SCMP's biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing China extended its short-term stay visa exemption policy to four Persian Gulf countries on Wednesday, a day after a landmark summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Southeast Asian countries. European businesses' optimism about growth and profitability in China has hit a record low, overshadowed by economic downturns and rising geopolitical tensions, according to annual survey findings by a leading foreign business association, which called for the full implementation of recently announced measures aimed at improving the business environment. A worker handles materials during the semiconductor-production process in China's Shandong province. Photo: AFP Semiconductor representatives from China and Europe have come together at a government-hosted meeting in Beijing to explore deeper collaboration and enhance supply-chain resilience after the United States stepped up tech curbs on China.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China offers visa-free travel to 4 Gulf countries following landmark summit
China extended its short-term stay visa exemption policy to four Persian Gulf countries on Wednesday, a day after a landmark summit with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Southeast Asian countries. Starting on June 9, passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain will be permitted to enter China without a visa, according to China's foreign ministry. Citizens of these countries who intend to stay in China for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits or cultural exchanges are able to benefit from this visa-free arrangement, which will be in place for one year as a trial policy. 'On top of the comprehensive mutual visa-exemption policy implemented for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2018, China's latest visa-free measures now extend to all six GCC member states,' said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. 'We warmly welcome more friends from GCC countries to embark on spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment journeys to China.' The announcement came just one day after leaders from China and the Gulf states met in Kuala Lumpur, where a landmark summit involving China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the GCC was held to strengthen regional economic ties and cushion trade tensions with the US.
Japan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan and Paraguay to upgrade ties to strategic partnership
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and visiting Paraguayan President Santiago Pena agreed Wednesday to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. During their meeting in Tokyo, the two leaders agreed to launch a bureau-chief-level policy dialogue. They also decided to launch a program allowing Paraguayan citizens to visit Japan without a visa for short stays. Ishiba and Pena also confirmed that their countries have reached a substantial agreement in talks to conclude an investment pact. The Japanese government aims to encourage domestic companies to enter the South American market by leveraging Paraguay's position as part of the Mercosur trade bloc. Paraguay is the only South American country that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Times of Oman
13-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Omani citizens currently visiting Russia must obtain valid visa: Foreign Ministry
Muscat: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has alerted Omani citizens that the visa exemption agreement with the Republic of Russia has not yet come into force. Citizens wishing to travel to Russia must obtain a visa in advance. The Ministry said in a statement :"The Ministry of Foreign is pleased to inform Omani citizens that the mutual visa exemption agreement between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation will enter into force upon completion of the necessary procedures by both date for the implementation of this exemption will be announced through the official channels of the Ministry of Foreign ." " Until the official announcement is made, holders of ordinary passports wishing to travel to the Russian Federation are requested to obtain a visa in advance, " the statement added.
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Belarus and Guinea-Bissau signs the Agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports
On May 7, 2025 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus hosted the signing ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. The document was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, and the State Secretary for International Cooperation of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Fatumata Jau. The agreement will enter into legal force after the parties fulfil necessary domestic procedures. On the same day, the two ministers met and discussed the status and prospects of the Belarusian-Bissau cooperation. They agreed to draw up a list of projects and agreements for implementation in the nearest future and to hold inter-ministerial political consultations. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
