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China has announced that the citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia would be temporarily excluded from visa applications to visit their nation to increase the tourism industry after the devastating effects of COVID-19.
Starting from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world.
The government is also looking to re-establish its image around the world after clashing with many Western countries on various issues including COVID, human rights, Taiwan and trade.
A recent Pew Research Center survey in 24 countries revealed that views of China were broadly negative, with 67% of adults expressing unfavourable views.
More than half of the respondents said China interfered in the affairs of other countries and did not take into account the interests of others.
"This decision will facilitate travel to China for many German citizens to an unprecedented extent," Germany's ambassador to China, Patricia Flor, said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
"We hope that the Chinese government will implement the measures announced today for all EU member states," she said.
Visa-free travel to Germany for Chinese nationals would only be possible if all members of the European Schengen Agreement approved, she said.
The head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) hailed the announcement of a temporary visa exemption as "an important signal that can boost both tourism and economic exchange".
"Above all, the regulation facilitates the maintenance of German machines, the assurance of quality 'Made in Germany', entrepreneurial exchange and the cultivation of interpersonal contacts," Volker Treier said in an interview with Reuters.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is in Beijing, wrote on X: "An excellent new announcement on the occasion of my visit from my counterpart Wang Yi!"
This month, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens of Norway.
In August, China scrapped all COVID test requirements for inbound travellers. It resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July.
International flights in and out of the country, while recovering more slowly than services on the domestic network, have been picking up.
China's aviation authority said in October that 16,680 weekly flights were expected from November through March, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total four years ago.
The European Chamber of Commerce in China also said the move would help boost business confidence. "It is a positive that the authorities are taking steps to facilitate people-to-people exchanges," it added
Source: Reuters
中國將對法國、德國、西班牙、義大利、荷蘭、馬來西亞實施免簽政策
中國宣布暫時禁止法國、德國、義大利、荷蘭、西班牙和馬來西亞的公民申請訪問本國的簽證，以在受到新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 的破壞性影響後促進旅遊業發展
外交部發言人週五表示，自12月1日起至明年11月30日，這些國家的公民入境中國商務、旅遊、探親訪友或過境不超過15天，將不再需要簽證。。
近幾個月來，中國一直在採取措施，包括恢復國際航線，以重振旅遊業，此前三年，中國針對新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 採取了嚴格的措施，基本上對外界關閉了邊境。
在與許多西方國家在新冠病毒、人權、台灣和貿易等議題上發生衝突後，中國政府也尋求在世界各地重新建立形象。
皮尤研究中心最近在 24 個國家進行的一項調查顯示，人們對中國的看法普遍持負面態度，67% 的成年人表達了負面看法。
超過一半的受訪者表示，中國干涉別國事務，不考慮別國利益。
德國駐華大使帕特里夏·弗洛（Patricia Flor）在社交媒體平台X（原名Twitter）上表示： “這一決定將為許多德國公民前往中國提供前所未有的便利。”
「我們希望中國政府為所有歐盟成員國落實今天宣布的措施，」她說。
她說，只有歐洲申根協定所有成員國都批准，中國公民才能免簽前往德國。
德國工商會（DIHK）外貿負責人稱讚臨時免簽的宣布是「可以促進旅遊業和經濟交流的重要信號」。
沃克·特雷爾在接受路透社採訪時表示： “最重要的是，該法規有利於德國機器的維護、‘德國製造’的品質保證、企業交流和人際交往的培養。”
身在北京的法國外交部長凱瑟琳·科隆納 (Catherine Colonna) 在 X 上寫道： “在我訪問之際，我的外交部長王毅宣布了一個非常好的新消息！”
本月，中國將過境免簽政策擴大到54個國家，其中包括挪威公民。
8月，中國取消了對入境旅客的所有新冠病毒檢測要求。 7月恢復對新加坡和汶萊公民15天免簽證入境。
進出該國的國際航班雖然恢復速度慢於國內網路的服務，但一直在回升。
中國航空管理局10月表示，預計11月至3月每週航班數量為16,680架次，客運航班量預計將達到四年前總數的71%。
中國歐盟商會也表示，此舉將有助於提振企業信心。 聲明補充說： “當局正在採取措施促進民間交流，這是積極的。”
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