January 25, 2024 In a significant stride towards enhanced bilateral relations, China and Singapore have inked a historic agreement on mutual visa exemption, set to take effect from February 9, 2024. This landmark move, announced on Thursday, allows holders of ordinary passports from both nations to enter each other’s country without a visa for various activities such as tourism, family visits, and business, with a stay not exceeding 30 days.
For activities like employment or journalism, prior approval is necessary, and those planning a stay exceeding 30 days must obtain the appropriate visa before entry.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, revealed that the Agreement Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on the Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Ordinary Passports was officially signed in Beijing. Wang emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges between the two nations and hailed the agreement as a New Year gift for their citizens, taking effect just before the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.
The mutual visa exemption is anticipated to deepen cultural ties, foster people-to-people exchanges, and propel the advancement of bilateral relations and cooperation across various sectors, Wang noted.
China has already established similar agreements with 157 countries, covering various passport types, and streamlined visa procedures with 44 countries. Comprehensive mutual visa exemption has been achieved with 22 countries, including Singapore, the Maldives, and Kazakhstan.
Wu Xi, director-general of the Consular Department at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored China’s commitment to facilitating people-to-people exchanges and promoting a high-level opening-up to the outside world. Wu welcomed friends from all countries to travel, invest, and study in China, urging adherence to local laws and bilateral agreements.
The announcement has spurred increased interest in travel between China and Singapore. According to Qunar, hotel searches in Singapore doubled following the news, while Trip.com reported a surge in real-time search popularity for Singapore-related travel products. Singapore ranks as the fifth most-popular destination for the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, with increased bookings by Chinese tourists.
This move comes as Singapore and China continue their collaborative efforts within the Belt and Road Initiative. The mutual visa exemption is expected to provide added convenience for travelers, opening new market opportunities for tourism enterprises in both countries.
As the Spring Festival approaches, Singapore emerges as a significant outbound travel destination for Chinese tourists, with bookings witnessing a remarkable 14-fold increase compared to the previous year, as per data from Trip.com. The mutual visa exemption is poised to further deepen the ties between China and Singapore, setting the stage for increased cooperation and vibrant people-to-people exchanges.
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