STORY: China's visa-free policy ignites European fascination, enhances connectivity
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: May 13, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:36
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Europe
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KONNYID LASZLO, CEO, Hungarian Tourism Agency
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Catalan): MARIN ORRIOLS, Spanish businessman and CEO of China-Europe Consultants
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): ROLAND, Belgian scientist

STORYLINE:

To promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals, China has decided to extend the visa-free policy to Dec. 31, 2025, including citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Citizens of these 12 countries with ordinary passports will be allowed to enter and stay in China visa-free for up to 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit.

The policy, geared towards fostering interactions among Chinese and international citizens, garnered widespread acclaim in Europe and was seen as a way to improve relationships between China and Europe in many areas.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KONNYID LASZLO, CEO, Hungarian Tourism Agency
"This (extension of the visa-free policy) is an opportunity for Hungarian travelers. So this will definitely help to generate more business. And we highly appreciate the decision of the Chinese government.
I believe in tourism. I believe in cultural exchange. I believe in young people. And if all these three elements function together, then tourism will be excellent from China. And I am inviting all the Chinese travelers, groups and individual travelers, to Budapest to discover the beauty of our capital city and our nation."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Catalan): MARIN ORRIOLS, Spanish businessman and CEO of China-Europe Consultants
"For business people who often need flexibility when it comes to traveling, this initiative is a big change for better.
When you arrived at Shenzhen airport, you obviously had to go through passport control. But now you can pass more quickly because you no longer have to show your visa.
It not only makes it easier for people from different countries to do business with China, but it also makes it easier for tourists and attracts them in a way which is agiler, easier and less costly."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): ROLAND, Belgian scientist
"I would be more interested in visiting big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. I'd like to travel to big cities with many technologies."

The visa-free policy, a tangible move of China in pushing for high-level opening-up, infuses momentum into the exchanges between China and Europe.

During the first quarter of 2024, Chinese immigration management agencies processed over 141 million traveler trips.

Among them, trips by foreign nationals reached 13.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 305.2 percent, said the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)