China has announced an expansion of its visa-free policy, adding nine new countries to the list, including eight European nations. Starting from November 30, 2024, citizens from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, and Latvia will be able to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, and other visits.
Officials and tourism professionals from these countries have welcomed the move as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations. Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg hailed the policy as “another milestone in the longstanding relations between the two countries.”
“This visa-free agreement reflects the strong mutual trust and commitment to fostering closer ties in tourism, business, and cultural exchange,” said Borg, who is also Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade. “It simplifies travel for our citizens but also paves the way for deeper cooperation and new international trade opportunities.”
Croatian tour guide Branka Perić expressed enthusiasm, stating that the visa-free policy is “certainly good news” for the tourism sector. Perić, who is establishing her own travel agency, believes the policy showcases China’s openness to the world and will foster friendlier ties between China and Croatia.
“China and Croatia have a long history of good relations, and this has been confirmed in many cases. China has shown that it can successfully cooperate with much smaller countries like Croatia to the benefit of both sides,” she noted.
Xie Dong, a Chinese inbound tour guide specializing in Latvia and Estonia, agreed that the new policy would boost tourism between the Baltic countries and China. He called for the establishment of direct flights to further enhance connectivity.
Nina Merlușca, destination manager of Romanian tourism city Piatra-Neamț, said the visa-free policy for Romanian passport holders will “increase cooperation between the two countries.” Based on her personal experiences traveling in China, she remarked that China is a very friendly country for tourists.
With the latest expansion, ordinary passport holders from a total of 38 countries under China’s visa-free arrangement will be able to enter the country without applying for a visa, for stays of up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit.
Reference(s):
European countries welcome China's expanded visa-free policy
cgtn.com
