As the Lunar New Year draws near, the governments of China and Singapore announced exciting news yesterday. Starting from 9 February, Chinese New Year’s Eve, the mutual visa exemption policy between China and Singapore will officially take effect. The Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports offers a more convenient travel pathway for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports.

Upon the effective date, Chinese citizens with ordinary passports may enter Singapore without applying for a visa for tourism, family visits, business trips and other personal matters, for a stay of up to 30 days. The implementation of this agreement not only deepens the friendship between the peoples of the two countries, but also brings China and Singapore closer together.

Singapore is a multicultural nation with a large ethnic Chinese community, where Lunar New Year celebrations are especially vibrant. On this special occasion, ethnic Chinese families in Singapore gather for a hearty New Year’s Eve reunion dinner and enjoy the traditional yu sheng, tossing the salad while making auspicious wishes.

The choice of Chinese New Year’s Eve as the effective date endows this policy with special symbolic meaning. It marks a milestone in the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and demonstrates China’s high-level opening-up in its foreign affairs. As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to expand, China is shouldering more responsibilities as a major country. China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries, delivering more convenient international travel for Chinese citizens. For Chinese citizens working, studying or travelling abroad, this means more options and flexible itinerary planning, bringing new opportunities for personal and career development.

Singapore is a friendly neighbour of China. People from both countries will benefit from easier travel brought by this policy. The implementation of the agreement will boost exchanges and cooperation between China and Singapore across culture, commerce, education and other sectors, opening broader prospects for people-to-people exchanges.

Let us look forward to the launch of the China-Singapore Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement, which will create a brighter future for in-depth cooperation and development of bilateral relations!