Singapore and China are in the process of finalizing a mutual agreement on a 30-day visa-free policy.
During his visit to Tianjin city and Beijing, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who concurrently serves as Singapore’s finance minister, is co-chairing the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Tianjin, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to local media, Wong highlighted the growing personnel exchanges between the two nations, noting that flights between Singapore and China have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement between our two countries will also support such progress, which can promote more personnel exchanges and strengthen the cornerstone of bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that the competent authorities of the two countries are currently in close communication on specific matters. He also added that both China and Singapore look forward to the early implementation and coming into force of relevant arrangements.
As of July 26, 2023, citizens from Singapore and Brunei have the opportunity to enter China without a visa as Chinese authorities resume the 15-day visa-free entry for them. The China embassy in Singapore announced that passport holders from both nations could enjoy visa-free travel to China for purposes such as business, sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and transit.
Currently, numerous countries already benefit from visa exemptions for stays of fewer than 30 days when traveling to China. In May 2023, Chinese authorities first engaged in discussions with Singapore regarding the details of a bilateral visa-free agreement, a move viewed favorably by Beijing’s embassy as a means to enhance arrivals in the city-state.
Furthermore, before the onset of the Coronavirus and its subsequent variants in 2019, Singapore welcomed a total of 3.6 million Chinese visitors who collectively spent around S$4.1 billion.
As of December 1 of this year, Malaysia also implemented a visa-free policy for citizens from China and India, permitting stays of up to 30 days. This visa exemption initiative will be valid until December 31, 2024.
Similarly, starting from September 25, Thailand authorities revealed that the latter waived visa requirements for travelers from China and Kazakhstan until February 29, 2024. This program aims to stimulate the tourism sector, intending to attract 30 percent more travelers and boost overall revenue for the country.