China to waive visas for more European countries

"I would like to inform you that starting from March 14, China will further implement the visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg on a trial basis," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference in Beijing, as quoted by Global Times.

Citizens from these countries will be allowed to stay in China up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes, Bloomberg reported.

In December last year, China waived visas for citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain as it seeks to recover tourism after years of border closures due to Covid.

China has scrapped visa requirements for an increasing number of European and Asian nations as the world’s second-largest economy seeks to revive the tourism industry.