China expands visa-free access for 9 more countries; congratulates Trump for victory

China is extending visa-free entry to nationals from nine additional countries, including South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Slovakia, as part of its broader efforts to revive its tourism industry and strengthen diplomatic ties as detailed in a South China Morning Post report.

Starting November 8, citizens from these countries, along with Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein, will be able to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes. This new policy will remain in effect until the end of 2025, increasing the total number of countries whose citizens enjoy visa-free access to 25, the South China Morning Post report detailed further. 

The announcement came on the heels of a recent visit by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Beijing, where he discussed enhancing economic cooperation with China, particularly in the clean energy sector. Fico expressed Slovakia’s interest in joining the “Friends of Peace” initiative, a China-Brazil-led group focused on resolving the war in Ukraine through political dialogue.

His visit underscored Slovakia’s growing ties with China, despite tensions in the European Union, where the European Commission recently imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Slovakia was one of the five EU nations that opposed these tariffs, viewing Chinese investments as crucial for its own growing electric vehicle industry.

China and European Union should maintain stable relations: Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised the importance of stable and mature relations between China and the European Union (EU), urging EU institutions to manage differences pragmatically and avoid politicizing trade and economic matters. Xi’s remarks reflect China’s ongoing efforts to balance its diplomatic outreach with its economic interests, particularly in light of recent EU tensions over trade policies.

The visa relaxation is also seen as a step toward easing tensions in China’s relations with South Korea. While the two nations maintain strong economic ties, their political relationship has been strained in recent years due to South Korea’s growing security partnership with the United States, especially under the leadership of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Beijing has not had an ambassador in South Korea for more than three months, marking the longest diplomatic vacancy since the countries established formal ties. However, the new visa policy signals China’s desire to improve bilateral relations, even as its alignment with North Korea complicates matters.

China has been working to revitalize its tourism sector, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict travel restrictions that followed. Since easing these restrictions last year, the country has seen a notable uptick in foreign visitors. In the first half of 2024, China welcomed 14.64 million international visitors, a 152 per cent increase from the previous year. The number of visa-free entries during this period reached 8.5 million, accounting for 58 per cent of total inbound travel.

These figures highlight China’s growing appeal as a destination for business and leisure, with further increases expected as visa policies continue to ease.

The move to extend visa-free access is part of China’s broader strategy to boost tourism and economic recovery while strengthening diplomatic relations with key global players, particularly in Europe and Asia.

China on Trump’s US Presidential victory

According to a report by Reuters, China expressed respect for the US election result and congratulated Donald Trump on his victory while an official newspaper called for a "pragmatic" approach to China-US relations to handle their differences properly.

Trump, a Republican who has promised to implement stiff tariffs, recaptured the White House with a sweeping victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday's election.

"We respect the choice of the American people and congratulate Mr. Trump on his election as president," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement late on Wednesday.

It is now to be seen how the two leading global economies will maintain relations going ahead, with Trump backing tariffs and trade restrictions that could complicate relations between both China and the US.