Short-stay pass shows openess

Comment on "Tourists may get 3-day visit window" (China Daily, May 28)

It is good news to learn that Beijing is considering allowing foreign tourists a 72-hour window to explore the capital without a visa. The visa waiver program will attract more short-term visitors from abroad. It reflects that Beijing is open to the world and not anti-foreigner, as some have tried to claim, following the launch of a 100-day crackdown on illegal immigrants by the Beijing public security bureau.

The Chinese authorities will issue 72-hour travel permits to those transit passengers who satisfy conditions such as a required amount of available cash. But three days are not enough for a tourist's sightseeing tour in Beijing because of the city's numerous places of interest and cultural relics, so the time frame might be extended for different tourists as long as they can meet certain standards.

Chinese people welcome legitimate foreigners with open arms and the country will protect the legitimate rights and interests of the foreigners coming to China.

Xiao Chen, via e-mail

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(China Daily 05/30/2012 page9)