Policy Dispatch | China Further Opens Its Doors to the Global Market
In 2024, the Chinese government has prioritized "expanding high-level opening up" as one of its key objectives in the Government Work Report. Following the introduction of new regulations for cross-border data flows in March and the plan to open up value-added telecommunications services in April, the Sinobravo Public Policy Team has observed a series of new policies aimed at facilitating the movement of people and the opening of the service sector.
On May 14, the Ministry of Finance announced that starting June 1, 2024, foreign nationals legally working and residing in China will be eligible to take the Chinese professional accounting qualification exams under the same conditions as domestic candidates. Furthermore, accounting experience gained abroad by foreign nationals will now be recognized as part of their professional experience in China.
Additionally, on March 22, the Ministry of Commerce released the "Special Administrative Measures for Cross-Border Trade in Services (Negative List) (2024 Edition)" and the "Free Trade Zone Special Administrative Measures for Cross-Border Trade in Services (Negative List) (2024 Edition)." This marks the first time a nationwide negative list management model for cross-border trade in services has been established. Notably, the new list adopts a more open talent policy, removing restrictions on foreign individuals taking exams for six types of professional qualifications, including urban planners, real estate appraisers, auctioneers, consulting engineers, veterinarians, and supervisory engineers. This change aims to encourage and attract more foreign professionals to work and start businesses in China.
In parallel, China has further opened its cultural tourism market to foreign nationals. On May 7, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced the extension of visa-free policies for citizens of 12 countries—France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg—until December 31, 2025. Ordinary passport holders from these countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 15 days.
Furthermore, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have fully abolished the visa appointment system. Applicants can now obtain visas on a walk-in basis, and those applying for short-term visas are exempt from fingerprinting. Eligible applicants can even complete the process without needing to visit in person, and the current visa fee has been temporarily reduced by 25%, significantly lowering the cost of visa applications.
On May 15, the National Immigration Administration announced the implementation of visa-free entry policies for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship in China's coastal provinces. Organized by local travel agencies, foreign tourist groups (of two or more) can enter visa-free through 13 cruise ports, including Tianjin, Dalian, Shanghai, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, Haikou, and Sanya. These groups must travel together on the same cruise ship to the next port until their departure from China, with a stay not exceeding 15 days, limited to coastal provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and Beijing.
On the same day, a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism stated that efforts would focus on further promoting the inbound tourism market, including continuously enhancing the convenience of inbound tourism, enriching tourism products and service offerings, and intensifying external publicity and market promotion.
-END-