China Gives 5 Years Of Visa Facilities For Businessmen From ASEAN

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday (3/6/2025) (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government provides five-year "multi-entry" visa facilities for business people from 10 Southeast Asian countries and also Timor Leste as "observers" in ASEAN.

"China has launched 'visa ASEAN' for 10 ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste observers. This new program offers a five-year 'multi-entry' visit visa for applicants who meet the requirements and visit China for business purposes," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, June 3.

"ASEAN VILLAGE" can also be used for couples and children who apply for visas with a maximum stay of 180 days.

"Anyone who has more detailed questions about visas to China, can contact our diplomatic and consular representatives in their respective countries," continued Lin Jian.

In recent years, said Lin Jian, China and ASEAN have advanced community development with a common future and achieved important progress in building a peaceful, safe, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly home.

"The visit between the people of China and Southeast Asian countries takes place intensively. There is hope together to further facilitate the journey between China and ASEAN," said Lin Jian.

Lin Jian previously said there were visa-free facilities between China and a number of countries in Southeast Asia, namely Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, as well as China's visa Lancang-Mekong'' program for countries along the Mekong River.

"The number of countries granted unilateral visa-free access to China has become 43 countries. The increasing 'Vaccine-free list' shows China's strong determination in expanding high-level openness," added Lin Jian.

Various steps that China has taken to facilitate cross-border travel, said Lin Jian, are part of China's concrete actions to create an open global economy.

"As additional evidence, in the first quarter of this year, China received more than 9 million foreign national visits, up more than 40 percent year-on-year and in the first four months, more than 18 thousand companies with foreign investments were established in China, up 12.1 percent year-on-year," explained Lin Jian.

Lin Jian said China would continue to improve entry policies and add more countries to visa-free lists.

"We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, we are committed to being more open and working more deeply for the sake of mutual welfare with the rest of the world," said Lin Jian.

Previously, China announced visa-free policies for six Gulf countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, China also announced visa-free policies for ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

According to China's National Immigration Administration, foreigners who come to China by utilizing visa-free facilities by 2024 reach 20.1 million people, an increase of 112.3 percent compared to 2023.