Citizens of Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg will enter without a visa as part of the visa-free policy on a trial basis.
The decision will come into effect from March 14, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.
"We hope more countries will also offer Chinese citizens visa facilitation and work with us to build fast-track networks for cross-border travels and encourage speedy resumption of international passenger flights," Wang said.
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This will make it more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad, and make foreign friends feel at home in China, he said.
Wang pledged cooperation with relevant authorities to promote the signing of more high-standard free trade agreements, expand the globally oriented network of free trade areas, and keep global industrial, supply, and data chains stable and unimpeded.
On the other hand, the Royal Thai Government has already extended visa-free access for tourists from China and Kazakhstan, effective from March 1.
Thailand and China signed an agreement for a mutual visa entry for citizens of both countries on 28 January 2024, which officially comes into effect.
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The agreement exempts holders of valid Thai ordinary passports and valid Chinese passports for public affairs and ordinary passports from visa requirement for entering, exiting, or transiting the other country’s territory for a 30-day stay except for those with the purposes of residing or engaging in employment, study, media activities or other activities that require prior approval from competent authorities of the other country.
Thailand previously granted temporary visa exemption for Chinese tourists from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024.
China is one of Thailand’s largest markets. In 2023, the number of Chinese arrivals in Thailand reached 3.5 million, making it the second largest market after Malaysia and before South Korea, India, and Russia. From 1 January to 26 February 2024, Thailand welcomed 1.12 million Chinese arrivals.