Visa-free travel arrangement to enhance people-to-people and business ties
During the 19th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the importance of people-to-people links in deepening cooperation between Singapore and China. Both leaders stressed the need to strengthen connections not only in traditional areas like trade and investment but also in emerging sectors such as digital and green economies.
One of the key announcements was the plan to introduce a 30-day visa-free travel arrangement between the two countries, expected to be implemented in early 2024. This new visa exemption aims to foster greater people and business flows, enhancing the financial and economic relationship between Singapore and China. It follows the resumption of China’s 15-day visa-free facility for Singaporean travelers in July 2023.
The move is seen as a step toward revitalizing tourism and further strengthening bilateral ties, which have been improving as flight connectivity nears pre-Covid levels. Despite slower-than-expected growth in China’s outbound tourism, the resumption of international travel and the easing of restrictions mark a positive shift.
This meeting also saw the signing of 24 agreements across various sectors, including food security, health, energy, and finance, aimed at deepening economic ties between the nations. It is the first time Lawrence Wong and Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang co-chaired the JCBC since both countries upgraded their relationship to a more comprehensive and forward-looking partnership in April.
As both countries focus on addressing global challenges such as geopolitical tensions and climate change, they continue to explore opportunities to boost collaboration and enhance connectivity in the coming years.
