China's visa-free policies have effectively boosted people-to-people exchanges, Li Wen, chief of mission in China for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) aired on Saturday, World Tourism Day.
"The implementation of visa-free policies and improved services for migrants supports the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration by facilitating mobility pathways, so IOM welcomes these measures, particularly at a time when we see increasing restrictions over visa access in some countries," said Li.
China saw a surge of 52.1 percent in visa-free entries by foreign nationals from January to August 2025, to 15.89 million, year on year, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).
During the same period, border inspection agencies processed 51.27 million foreign entries and exits, a 27.8 percent increase from the previous year, with visa-free arrivals accounting for 62.1 percent of the total entries, the NIA added.
The administration pledged to streamline procedures to make cross-border travel more convenient and efficient for both domestic and foreign travelers.
"And these measures not only simplify the travel process, but also highlight the positive outcomes of greater mobility. For instance, since the implementation of these measures, China has seen a remarkable increase in the number of international travelers, generating higher tourist revenues and making China an increasingly popular tourist destination around the world. And more interestingly, the same period also saw an uptick in international public opinion in favor of China, according to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center in more than 20 countries," said Li.
"So, inspired by China's policies, some countries have also started implementing similar approaches. For instance, recently the Republic of Korea announced that it will implement visa waiver policies to Chinese visitors under certain conditions, and the reciprocal visa exemption agreement between China and Malaysia also took effect in July this year," she said.
South Korea will grant visa-free entry to Chinese group tourists for nine months, starting Monday, as part of efforts to boost local tourism.
China's visa-free policies boost exchanges: UN official
