.contact us |.about us
News > National News...
Search:
    Advertisement
Japanese to visit China visa-free
( 2003-08-06 07:08) (China Daily)

Japanese could be able to travel to China visa-free on short-stay visits under a proposal to be discussed early next week.

China's Foreign Ministry Tuesday confirmed Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing would discuss the issue on his four-day visit to Japan that starts on Sunday.

"We are willing to work with the Japanese to further facilitate exchanges and to promote people-to-people contact between our two countries,'' said a Foreign Ministry official

For years, Japanese have been the single biggest group of foreign tourists to China, making up about a fifth of all international tourists. In 2002, 2.9 million Japanese tourists visited China, up 23 per cent from 2001 and hitting a record high, official figures show.

Japanese Embassy sources in Beijing told China Daily the new visa exemption programme may allow Japanese to stay for a maximum of 15 days in China without visas.

China has already issued similar visa exemptions to tourists from Singapore and Brunei.

Over the years, China has gradually loosened the restrictions on Japanese visiting China, simplified the procedure for applying for visas and provided long-term multi-entry visas for some Japanese.

"These measures have increased friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese people and helped promote China's economic development and opening,'' said the Foreign Ministry official.

The negotiations with Japan over visa exemptions coincide with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty. They are regarded as a latest measure by the Chinese Government to revive the nation's tourism industry that was badly hit by the SARS outbreak in spring. Statistics show foreign tourist arrivals dropped by half year-on-year in the first half of this year.

Between April and June, the number of Japanese tourists who visited China plunged by more than 90 per cent over the same period last year.

Participants at a Sino-Japanese seminar on tourism held last Saturday agreed Japan will soon regain its position as China's largest source of foreign tourists. But they also noted that more is needed to be done in terms of business promotion to guarantee an early recovery.

 
Close  
   
  Today's Top News   Top National News
   
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+Nation tops TV, cell phone, monitor production
(2004-02-05)
+Absence ... still makes China hot
(2004-02-05)
+Hu: Developing world in key role
(2004-02-04)
+China confident of curbing bird flu: official
(2004-02-05)
+Absence ... still makes China hot
(2004-02-05)
+Department store faces music in copyright case
(2004-02-04)
+Official: Bird flu basically under control in China
(2004-02-05)
+Possible punishment for gay pimps
(2004-02-05)
   
  Go to Another Section  
     
 
 
     
  Article Tools  
     
   
     
  Related Articles  
     
 

+Hu calls for more Sino-Japanese non-governmental contacts
2003-07-23

+Commentary: Pro-Taiwan pose mars Sino-Japanese ties
2003-07-26

+Hundreds hurt in Japanese earthquakes
2003-07-26

+FM spokesman: Japan's adherence to defense-only policy conforms with its own interests
2003-07-27

+Aftershocks rattle Japan North, residents nervous
2003-07-28

+Commentary: Japan has an axe to grind
2003-07-30

+Japanese lawyers' Manchukuo remarks refuted
2003-08-01

+Japan to be restored as China's biggest tourism source
2003-08-03

   
        .contact us |.about us
  Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved