China's implementation of visa-free policy for South Korean nationals has driven up the number of tourist arrivals from the East Asian country.
The Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport in northeast China's Jilin Province now welcomes around 100 travelers from South Korea on a daily basis.
"This time we come to China on vacation. We used to know this place via TV or photos. We're quite looking forward to sightseeing and hope it would be very beautiful in winter," said Yoon Hyun Ki, a South Korean tourist.
In November 2024, China extended its visa-free transit policy to allow ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, including the Republic of Korea, to visit China for a maximum of 30 days without applying for a visa.
"For now, there are many South Korean young people come to China. the Changbai Mountains, rime ice scenery in Jilin, Changchun Ice and Snow World and Chinese delicacies are attracting the young South Koreans to visit," said Zhang Libin, office director of Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport division under Yanji Customs.
As an air transportation port between Jilin Province and South Korea, the Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport is one of the main channels for South Korean tourists to visit Jilin.
After the implementation of the visa-free policy, Yanji Customs, along with the border check point and the airport, has stepped up efforts in coordination and resource sharing with the help of science and technology to significantly improve the process of customs clearance for passengers.
"Since the implementation of the new visa-free policy, the Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport has seen an over 55 percent increase in inbounding South Korean tourists from last year," Zhang said.
China's visa-free policy drives up tourist arrivals from South Korea
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will be held from May 22-23 in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, with preliminary consultations and seminars kicking off on Monday.
Multiple consultations have commenced, including discussions on the joint statement to be issued at the meeting and ways to promote cooperation in digital trade.
Additionally, the "Big Market for All: Export to China" Suzhou special event and the Suzhou products promotion event opened Monday.
Experts emphasized that the minister's meeting will play a timely role in advancing regional economic integration and tackling emerging trade challenges through deeper cooperation in digital and green sectors.
"APEC is the highest-level and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. On the 20th anniversary of the vision for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), the 2026 Suzhou APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will play a positive role in safeguarding the multilateral trading system, stabilizing Asia-Pacific cooperation, and leading global open development, countering the increasingly intensifying wave of trade protectionism," said Yuan Qian, deputy director of the trade and investment research division of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is under the administration of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"At the same time, as a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates, this meeting takes cooperation in emerging areas such as digital and green as important content, better aligning with the trend of global technological innovation and development, countering global economic growth pressures, and opening up new spaces for regional cooperation and development," the expert added.
Terms such as digital economy, electronic bills of lading, and green supply chains appear frequently in the agenda of the APEC trade ministers' meeting.
"Although electronic bills of lading may seem small, their impact on international trade is very critical. They can improve customs clearance efficiency and reduce customs clearance costs. If promoted, it will not only affect these developed economies and large traders, but more importantly, it will significantly enhance the ability of some small and medium-sized economies and some developing countries to participate in international trade and improve their trade efficiency," said Zhou Mi, deputy director of the Institute of American and Oceania, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is under the administration of the Ministry of Commerce.
This year, a key topic of the meeting is the digital economy.
"In the past, people thought the digital economy was an option; now it has become a must. Because having advantages in digital economy development means having greater advantages in international trade. They (member economies) have seen some of China's practices and approaches in the digital economy field and hope to use such a platform to further improve their own technology and strengthen coordination with China," said Zhou.
Founded in 1989, the APEC is the highest-level, broadest and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. About 700 representatives from 21 APEC economies and international organizations will gather in Jiangsu for the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting.
Preliminary consultations begin for APEC trade ministers' meeting
