Nov 23 (NHK) - China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month.
China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the visa exemptions will apply to nine countries, including Japan. It said visa requirements will be waived from November 30 through the end of next year, for stays of up to 30 days.
China previously allowed visa-free visits for up to 15 days, before suspending the program in March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Beijing says it has doubled the eligible length of stay for the convenience of travelers.
China resumed visa exemptions for Singapore and Brunei last year, and added European and Oceanian countries to the program later on.
Before the measure was suspended, many Japanese made short-term visa-free trips to China for tourism or business.
After China's announcement about the visa exemption, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told reporters that his government had urged the Chinese side to take such a step to increase private exchanges between the two nations.
Ishiba says he hopes the visa-free arrangements will prompt much more in the way of exchanges between the two countries.
There is speculation that this decision was made to encourage more Japanese investment in China's economy, which has been slowing down due to an ongoing slump in the real estate sector.
Beijing also appears keen to build ties with other countries, given the possibility that relations with Washington might worsen after president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.
The question is how far this latest move will prompt a resurgence in travel to China among Japanese nationals for business and tourism.
