China has granted visa-free access to citizens of 75 countries: official

China has introduced unilateral visa-free entry and mutual visa exemption agreements with 75 countries as part of its efforts to streamline visa rules and promote international exchange, a senior official said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang Zhizhong, vice minister of Public Security and head of the National Immigration Administration (NIA), noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), over 50 new immigration management policies have been implemented.

These measures have effectively supported the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the establishment of pilot free trade zones, and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, injecting new momentum into China's opening-up policy, according to Wang.

"To promote international exchanges and interactions, various visa exemption policies have been optimized. We have granted unilateral visa-free entry or signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 75 countries. The number of countries eligible for visa-free transit to China has increased to 55, while the number of entry ports has expanded to 60 across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Additionally, the allowed stay for visa-free transit has been extended to 240 hours. All these measures have greatly facilitated travel for foreigners visiting China for tourism, business, and other purposes," said Wang.

These optimized visa-free policies have fostered closer ties and deeper friendship between Chinese and people around the world. Many foreign visitors have gained a true and full understanding of China through their firsthand experiences, Wang noted.

Official data showed that from January to June this year, a total of 19.15 million foreign entries were handled at ports across China, representing a year-on-year increase of 30 percent. Among them, 13.64 million foreign entries were visa-free, accounting for 71.2 percent of the total and marking a year-on-year increase of 53.9 percent.

China has granted visa-free access to citizens of 75 countries: official

China has granted visa-free access to citizens of 75 countries: official

China has granted visa-free access to citizens of 75 countries: official

China has granted visa-free access to citizens of 75 countries: official

As foreign trade is an important part of China's open economy and a driving force for national economic development, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said China will step up efforts to promote innovative development of its cross-border commerce.

In a recent interview with China Media Group, Wang said that China's foreign trade in goods grew by 3.8 percent year on year to reach 45.47 trillion yuan (about 6.53 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, hitting a new record and marking the first time that the volume has exceeded the 45-trillion-yuan threshold. The country is also expected to maintain its position as the world's largest trading nation in goods in 2025.

He stated that the global economy currently faces insufficient growth momentum, persistent geopolitical tensions, and a marked slowdown in trade expansion. The World Trade Organization has also revised its projected growth rate for global trade in 2026 downward to 0.5 percent, reflecting heightened uncertainty in the international trade environment.

In the face of significant challenges and mounting risks, China this year will advance the coordinated development of goods trade, service trade, and digital trade in a comprehensive and systematic manner, with the aim of ensuring stability and resilience in foreign trade performance, Wang stressed.

"We will consolidate and expand diversified markets. We will do a good job in hosting important exhibitions such as the Canton Fair, attract more overseas buyers to attend and purchase, and increase support for enterprises to participate in exhibitions abroad. We will guide the healthy and standardized development of new forms and models of foreign trade such as cross-border e-commerce. China has reached 23 free trade agreements (FTA) with 30 countries and regions. We will support and guide enterprises to make good use of these agreements to expand trade exchanges," he said.

China will promote balanced trade development in 2026, said Wang, adding that it will actively expand imports through measures such as coordinated exhibition events and targeted procurement.

"We will continue to expand the influence of the 'Export to China' brand, hold a series of matchmaking events, make full use of various trade promotion platforms including the China International Import Expo, leverage the role of national demonstration zones for import trade promotion and innovation, enhance the facilitation of import trade, optimize the sources and structure of imported goods, and better meet the needs of industrial development and people's pursuit of a better life," he continued.

China to promote innovative development of foreign trade