CHINA and Singapore will implement a mutual visa exemption agreement starting from Feb. 9, which coincides with Lunar New Year’s Eve. This agreement allows citizens of both countries to travel, visit family members, and conduct business trips without the need for a visa. The agreement was signed by representatives from both countries Thursday, as reported by State broadcaster CCTV. The duration of stay is limited to a maximum of 30 days. For activities that require prior approval, such as employment or news reporting in the host country, and staying for more than 30 days, the corresponding visas must be obtained before entering the host country. Personnel exchanges between the two sides were increasing, with flights between both countries recovering to close to pre-pandemic levels, Singapore’s main Chinese language paper Lianhe Zaobao reported in December. Wu Xi, director general of the Department of Consular Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country has implemented a series of measures to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, demonstrating China’s determination to promote high-level opening up. China welcomes friends from all over the world to visit, do business, invest, and study in the country, Wu said. For the first nine months of last year, Singapore received over 1 million Chinese visitors, and the Chinese mainland has been one of the largest single sources of visitor arrivals to Singapore before and after COVID-19. China resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore last year, more than three years after such visas were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore’s central bank and the People’s Bank of China are also starting a pilot program to allow travelers from both countries to use China’s e-CNY digital currency for tourism spending in Singapore and China, the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced. (SD News) | 