The mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Kazakhstan has spurred a spike in cross-border travel one year after its implementation as it facilitates cross-border tours for people from both countries.
Sunday marks the first anniversary of the agreement.
Over the past year, bustling scenes have unfolded at various ports in northwest Chin's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region which borders Kazakhstan, with a boom in travelers moving between the two countries for business, tourism and family visits.
Since the mutual visa exemption agreement kicked in on November 10, 2023, people of both countries have enjoyed streamlined travel for business and leisure.
"I'm visiting my husband in Kazakhstan. I find this visa-free policy especially convenient for long-distance family visits," said a Chinese tourist.
"The mutual visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan is incredibly convenient for cross-border commerce, saving time and making business trips much easier and faster for us in doing cross-border business. It is really convenient for traveling and taking business trips," said a Kazakh businessman.
Over the past year, 35,000 Kazakh visitors have entered China through the port of Urumqi Diwopu International Airport alone for sightseeing and business activities, boosting tourism and trade of the two countries.
"Since the implementation of the agreement, we've seen a palpable increase in visitors and business people, with over 130 flights per month between the two countries," said Zhao Hu, an officer of Urumqi's Exit-Entry Border Inspection Station.
The port of Khorgos has also experienced staggering traffic peaks this year, with daily crossings averaging around 3,700 travelers and exceeding 6,800 on the busiest days.
As of Sunday, over one million people had passed through the Khorgos highway port this year, a record high.
Data from Xinjiang's border inspection authorities shows a total of almost 1.93 million cross-border travelers have passed through Xinjiang's ports since the visa-free agreement took effect, marking a whopping 129.18-percent surge from the previous year.
China-Kazakhstan visa-free agreement catalyzes travel boom in 1st year
China has built and upgraded nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to boost industrial and infrastructure development, as well as trade on the continent.
In Uganda, the 217.9-million-U.S.-dollar Masindi-Park Junction and Tangi Junction-Paraa-Buliisa road project serves as a vital link for both commerce and conservation in the country.
Funded by the China Export-Import Bank and built by China Communications Construction Company, the project is not just a ribbon of asphalt, but a lifeline connecting communities and catalyzing growth.
The road winds through the vast Murchison Falls National Park, reducing travel time and improving the tourist experience.
And the 51-kilometer Kampala Entebbe Expressway in the country, financed and constructed by China, reduces the travel time from Kampala to Entebbe airport to 30 minutes from 120 minutes before.
In Tanzania, the Chinese-built state-of-the-art Kijazi Interchange in Dar es Salaam is the biggest project of its kind in the country.
It consists of a three-level interchange with the maximum height of 17.5 meters and service roads.
The interchange significantly reduces traffic jams in the commercial capital, making heavy traffic jams lasting for hours at the busy Ubungo junction history.
The Keffi Road project in Nigeria, contracted by the China Harbor Engineering Company, was completed in 2023.
The project comprises the construction of the Abuja-Keffi expressway and dualization of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road in central Nigeria, facilitating local economic activities along with job opportunities and road-construction expertise.
The 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, built by a Chinese firm, is providing a faster route for motorists heading to and from the central business district, the city's industrial area and the main international airport.
It is part of a broader investment in Kenya's transport infrastructure, aimed at improving road connectivity and supporting the country's economic growth.
Since its launch, the toll road has significantly cut travel time between Nairobi's southern areas, home to the main airport, and the upscale Westlands suburb, from two hours during peak times to just 20 minutes.
China builds, upgrades nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa
