China will relaunch from Wednesday its issuance of virtually all its visas for foreigners, very restricted since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chinese embassy in Washington announced on Monday, a new step towards a return to normal wanted by Beijing.
In addition, visas issued by Beijing before March 28, 2020 and which have not yet expired will regain their validity and will once again offer their holders the option of entering China, the embassy said in a press release.
China will also restore the possibilities of certain visa-free entries, including those to the tourist island of Hainan or those allowed to cruise passengers calling at Shanghai.
Measures lifted
After three years of some of the most draconian restrictions in the world, which have severely affected its economy and ended up sparking protests across the country, China last December abruptly lifted most of its measures to fight the pandemic.
Then, in January, the Chinese authorities lifted the mandatory quarantine for travelers from abroad, one of the most emblematic measures of the government’s “zero Covid” strategy.