An opinion piece published by Xinhua on 7 November argues that China’s rapidly expanding roster of visa-free arrangements is fast becoming a ‘connective tissue’ that binds the mainland more closely to global value chains. Citing immigration data, the article notes that 20 million foreigners entered China visa-free in 2024 and that the figure is tracking 50 percent higher for 2025.
The commentary attributes the surge to successive liberalisations—240-hour transit waivers, the 65-port expansion unveiled on 3 November and this week’s two-year extension of the 30-day unilateral waiver. Together, they allow overseas investors, buyers and technicians to “step across the threshold” at short notice, which in turn stimulates sectors ranging from high-end manufacturing audits in Suzhou to duty-free retail in Hainan.
![Xinhua Commentary: Visa-Free Policies Tighten China’s Global Connectivity]()
Analysts quoted by Xinhua point out that the policy mix is reciprocated abroad: Thailand, Malaysia and the EU have all relaxed requirements for Chinese nationals, setting up a virtuous cycle of mobility. They caution, however, that bottlenecks—such as limited international flight capacity and cumbersome hotel registration for foreigners—must still be addressed to convert visa facilitation into long-term tourism revenue.
For mobility managers, the piece underscores that the regulatory trajectory is firmly toward openness, suggesting that corporate China visits planned for 2026 will face fewer bureaucratic hurdles than at any point since 2019. Companies are advised to update travel handbooks and expense policies to reflect visa-free eligibility and to train travellers on the 30-day stay limit.
The article’s upbeat tone also provides useful talking points for global HR teams pitching China assignments that require frequent entry and exit: reputationally, China is signalling it wants foreign talent on the ground.
The commentary attributes the surge to successive liberalisations—240-hour transit waivers, the 65-port expansion unveiled on 3 November and this week’s two-year extension of the 30-day unilateral waiver. Together, they allow overseas investors, buyers and technicians to “step across the threshold” at short notice, which in turn stimulates sectors ranging from high-end manufacturing audits in Suzhou to duty-free retail in Hainan.
Analysts quoted by Xinhua point out that the policy mix is reciprocated abroad: Thailand, Malaysia and the EU have all relaxed requirements for Chinese nationals, setting up a virtuous cycle of mobility. They caution, however, that bottlenecks—such as limited international flight capacity and cumbersome hotel registration for foreigners—must still be addressed to convert visa facilitation into long-term tourism revenue.
For mobility managers, the piece underscores that the regulatory trajectory is firmly toward openness, suggesting that corporate China visits planned for 2026 will face fewer bureaucratic hurdles than at any point since 2019. Companies are advised to update travel handbooks and expense policies to reflect visa-free eligibility and to train travellers on the 30-day stay limit.
The article’s upbeat tone also provides useful talking points for global HR teams pitching China assignments that require frequent entry and exit: reputationally, China is signalling it wants foreign talent on the ground.
