China announced on Friday the extension of its visa-exemption policy to nine more countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Japan, starting from the end of this month to the end of 2025.
Beijing decided to give visa-free treatment to another nine countries to further encourage cross-border travel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday.
Since the mutual visa-free policy between China and Singapore was implemented on Feb 9, travel between the two countries has surged, significantly boosting tourism and fostering cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections.
Twelve visitors from Australia, the Netherlands, Argentina and Russia have become the first group of foreign tourists to take advantage of China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy to enjoy a complimentary one-day city tour of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday.
Starting later this month, foreign visitors taking advantage of China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy will be offered a complimentary one-day city tour in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
China will include Australia in the list of unilateral visa-free countries, Premier Li Qiang said on Monday.
China on Wednesday enforced a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.