China will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world's second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.
Sure, China's got a lot of really cool stuff about it that would be awesome to see. But with the wealth of other countries around the world not operating as full on dictatorships, I'm gonna hard pass on visiting until they sort their shit out (so probably never)
I like how they've suddenly realized that they've made a bad name for themselves around the world by being righteous dickheads so all of a sudden they're softening their rhetoric and expecting everyone to buy it.
The fact that this comment I've made alone might be grounds for arrest there is all that needs saying about it.
Ist doch in Deutschland auch so: keine Sim-Karte ohne Ausweiserfassung und -prüfung; kein Ausweis ohne die Erfassung und Verknüpfung der biometrischen Daten deines Gesichts - ohne dabei jetzt den chinesischen Überwachungsstaat schönreden zu wollen
BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world's second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.
From Dec. 1 to Nov. 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world.
The head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) hailed the announcement of a temporary visa exemption as "an important signal that can boost both tourism and economic exchange".
"Above all, the regulation facilitates the maintenance of German machines, the assurance of quality 'Made in Germany', entrepreneurial exchange and the cultivation of interpersonal contacts," Volker Treier said in an interview with Reuters.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is in Beijing, wrote on X: "An excellent new announcement on the occasion of my visit from my counterpart Wang Yi!"
The original article contains 481 words, the summary contains 209 words. Saved 57%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!