By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-25 10:21:31 | Updated at 2024-12-26 01:12:10
14 hours ago
Japan has offered to ease visa rules for Chinese visitors as the two sides seek to step up engagements.
Japan will extend the maximum length of multiple-entry visas from five years to 10 years, while the maximum stay for groups of tourists will also be increased from 15 days to 30 days, Japanese media reported.
It follows China’s decision to add Japan to its visa-free entry scheme last month, allowing visitors to stay for up to 30 days.
The measure was announced by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on a visit to Beijing on Wednesday, where he met Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and invited the latter to visit Japan when it is mutually convenient for economic talks.
The two sides also confirmed that dialogue mechanisms covering areas such as security and diplomacy would be restarted while talks on allowing Japanese beef and more milled rice imports into China would also resume.
Iwaya’s visit comes amid a drive to improve ties before Donald Trump returns to the White House next month.
