China's 240-hour visa-free transit program covers 5 more ports in Guangdong

China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday the expansion of the country's 240-hour visa-free transit program to five more ports in Guangdong Province, as part of China's latest efforts to further deepen its opening-up policy.

Those entry ports to be added to the list are Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Hengqin Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port, Zhongshan Port and West Kowloon Station Port of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

The new policy, effective Wednesday, will raise the total number of ports eligible for the 240-hour visa-free transit to 65.

Travelers from 55 eligible countries who meet certain criteria can enter China through any of those ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay in the country for up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, according to the NIA.

During their stay, travelers may engage in tourism, business, sightseeing, family visits, and other activities, while activities such as work, study, and news reporting that require prior approval should be carried out with the necessary visas in advance.

In addition, China's 24-hour visa-free direct transit policy will be expanded to ten more international airports, including Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Haikou Meilan International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, and Kunming Changshui International Airport.

Starting from Wednesday, travelers with international interline tickets transiting to a third country or region within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports without leaving the airport can be exempted from immigration inspection procedures.

China's 240-hour visa-free transit program covers 5 more ports in Guangdong

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted 51-50 to effectively block a bipartisan resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's authority to use military force in Venezuela, after two GOP senators flipped under intense pressure from the White House.

After senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young reversed their position and left the chamber deadlocked 50-50, U.S. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote on a procedural motion, derailing the measure that would have required the president to obtain congressional approval before taking further military action in the oil-rich South American nation.

The resolution was introduced in the wake of a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. Senate on January 8 voted 52 to 47 to advance the war powers resolution.

Trump had publicly criticized the five Republicans who joined all Democrats to back the bill, saying they "should never be elected to office again."

The president also called each of the five senators to vent his frustration over their votes, said a report from The Hill.

U.S. Senate blocks bid to curb presidential war powers on Venezuela