China Extends 15-Day Visa-Free Travel for Europeans and Malaysians Until 2025
China has pushed back the expiration of its 15-day visa-free policy for travelers from 12 key European and Asian nations, now valid until the end of 2025.
During his recent state visit to France, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an extension of the 15-day visa-exemption policy for nationals of 12 European and Asian countries—a welcome move for international travelers.
Initially set to expire at the end of 2024, this policy will now remain in effect through the end of 2025. Here’s what this means for international travel and Sino-European relations.
Watch the announcement summary here.
Which countries are included?
The program covers major players in the European Union as well as Malaysia. Eligible nations include: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Hungary, Ireland, and Malaysia.
This decision reflects a broader effort to deepen economic and cultural ties between China and these nations. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to boost people-to-people exchanges and revitalize the tourism sector, still recovering from pandemic-era travel restrictions.
The policy also intends to streamline the import of high-quality agricultural products from countries like France, making them more accessible to Chinese consumers.
In an era of heightened global tensions, such measures serve as important bridges for mutual understanding and peaceful cooperation between nations.
The site of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
