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Singapore and China will conduct people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through a 30-day mutual visa waiver agreement, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.
Wong made the above remarks at the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) forum on December 7, Zaobao reported.
This year’s JCBC forum is the first time Wong has co-chaired the annual platform at the ideal level, which collaborates between Singapore and China and charts the direction of cooperation between the two countries.
Previous 15-Day Visa-Free Access for Singaporeans
Previously, Singaporeans entering China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit could only benefit from a 15-day visa-free access policy, which was reinstated by the Chinese government in July 2023.
Citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold ordinary passports will need to download a valid visa and apply for access to Singapore, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
The 19th JCBC Forum has a “special significance”
During the forum, Wong said this year’s JCBC forum has “special significance” as it is the first forum since Singapore and China elevated bilateral relations to a “high-quality, future-oriented comprehensive partnership” in March 2023.
Additionally, 2023 marks the 15th anniversary of The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, and Tianjin is the host city for this year’s forum.
The full details of this arrangement, including when it will be implemented, has yet to be announced.
Expecting direct flight connectivity to reach and “exceed” pre-Covid levels
Wong said cooperation between Singapore and China was even more vital given the context of the 19th JCBC forum: headwinds facing the global economy, developing geopolitical uncertainties and climate change.
He also identified the exchanges amongst the people of both countries to be the “foundation” of bilateral cooperation.
While noting that the volume of people exchanges between Singapore and China is increasing, and flight connectivity has increased close to pre-Covid levels, Wong said that Singapore hopes the direct flight connectivity between the two countries can reach and even “go beyond” pre-Covid levels, reported The Business Times.
“The 30-day visa waiver agreement between our two countries will help achieve this goal. By enabling greater people-to-people exchanges, the agreement will also be the foundation of our bilateral relations,” Wong added.
Top symbol: Lawrence Wong, Facebook.