From March 15, China will resume issuing all types of visas to foreign citizens, which was suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, writes Deutsche Welle.
From March 15, China will resume issuing all types of visas to foreign citizens, which was suspended in March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. This was reported on Tuesday, March 14, at the Consular Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. As clarified by Reuters, the measure is aimed at revitalizing the Chinese economy against the backdrop of one of the slowest growth rates in almost half a century.
A visa-free regime will also be restored for several regions: from May 1, 2018, tourists from Russia and 58 other countries could visit the Chinese island of Hainan without visas. The same regime will apply to travelers on board cruise ships – in case they call at the port of Shanghai. In addition, visa-free entry to the southern province of Guangdong for groups of foreigners arriving from Hong Kong and Macau will resume.
Finally, the visa-free regime will again be valid for tourist groups from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the city of Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Foreigners with valid visas issued before March 28, 2020, will also be able to enter China.
China in January allowed its citizens to travel abroad. In addition, the number of countries where group tours are possible has been expanded by the PRC authorities to 60.
Plans for China’s GDP growth at the level of five percent
Delegates to the session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on March 13 approved the government’s plans to increase the country’s GDP by five percent and increase defense spending.
The Chinese government, after ending the policy of zero tolerance for coronavirus with lockdowns and quarantines, hopes for an economic recovery. To stimulate the conjuncture, a higher new debt than last year is envisaged. The volume of deficit in China is planned at the level of about 3 percent (last year – 2.8 percent).
The government report adopted at the NPC session provides for the creation of 12 million new jobs this year – one million more than in 2022. The authorities expect unemployment at 5.5 percent and inflation at 3 percent.
Chinese authorities declare victory over coronavirus
The Chinese leadership had previously declared a “great and decisive victory” in the fight against the coronavirus. The statement released after the meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee on February 17 stated that since November 2022, the PRC has “made a flawless transition” from the pandemic regime to normal life in a relatively short time.
In early December, the Chinese government unexpectedly lifted a strict zero-tolerance policy for the coronavirus with lockdowns, forced quarantines, and mass testing of the population. Data on deaths from COVID-19 has ceased to be published. According to observers, the crematoriums could not cope with the burning of the bodies of the dead.