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.