According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, this proves the “tangible benefits” for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, to which the measure was applied.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will optimize its options to facilitate exchanges among nations in the future.

According to data from the National Immigration Administration, nearly 18,000 people from the six countries entered China from December 1 to 3.

The spokesman said that nearly 7,000 citizens entered through visa exemption, accounting for 39 percent of the total arrivals from these six countries.

Wang stressed that the measure aims to back-up high-quality development and high-level opening up to the world.

The visa exemption, effective from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, applies to travelers entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days.

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