China welcomes foreign visitors with expanded visa-free policy for cruise travel

China on May 15, 2024, enforced a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline. Tourist groups each consisting of two foreigners or more, and organized or received by Chinese travel agencies, can enter China visa free on board cruise ships via the cruise ports in 13 Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Sanya, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA). The tourists can stay in China for no longer than 15 days. While in China, they can visit coastal provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as Beijing, an NIA statement noted. Additionally, the NIA announced that seven cruise ports, namely Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beihai, have been designated as visa-free transit ports for nationals from 54 countries. This move facilitates the transit and departure of foreign travelers from these ports via cruise ships under China's visa-free transit policy, the statement noted.

Xi, Putin attend opening ceremony of China-Russia Years of Culture

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Culture and a special concert celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties on May 16 in Beijing. Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties, Xi said that the history of China-Russia relations over the past three quarters of a century shows that consolidating and developing lasting bilateral good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and conform to the expectations of the international community and the trend of the times, which has irreplaceable significance. For his part, Putin noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and said that the Russian people have sincere admiration for the great achievements the Chinese people have won under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. He said that based on mutual respect, equality and mutual trust, the development of Russia-China relations has promoted the development of both countries, benefited the two peoples, and set a good example for international relations.