Singapore, China to implement 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement
Singapore and China have jointly announced a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement between the two countries, marking a significant step in enhancing people-to-people exchanges.
The announcement was made during the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting, the highest-level annual bilateral forum between Singapore and China at the Hilton Tianjin Eco-City hotel.
The visa exemption agreement aims to provide greater convenience for people traveling between Singapore and China.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the recovery of Chinese students studying in Singapore, exceeding 40,000 and returning to pre-pandemic levels. The visa-free arrangement is expected to further facilitate such exchanges.
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed Singapore's aspiration to surpass pre-pandemic levels in direct flight connectivity between the two countries.
He emphasized that the 30-day visa-free arrangement would fortify the bedrock of bilateral relations by enabling more people-to-people exchanges.
Both countries are currently working on the operational details, to implement the scheme in early 2024, as stated by the Singapore Prime Minister's Office in a media release.
Chinese citizens presently require a visa to enter Singapore, and this new agreement will eliminate this requirement for short visits.
Singaporeans with ordinary passports can already enter China without a visa for up to 15 days for various purposes, including business, tourism, visiting relatives, and transit.
The visa-free arrangement aims to further enhance the relationship between the two nations, following the recent upgrade to an "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership" during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping in March.
The JCBC meeting serves as a platform to review substantial collaboration and set the direction for cooperation between Singapore and China.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong, during a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, expressed anticipation in signing over 20 memoranda of understanding and agreements at the JCBC meeting, emphasizing the commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.
