China expands visa-free access to Japan, Bulgaria and other countries

Tourists pose for pictures at Mogao grottoes in Dunhuang, during an organised media tour in Gansu province, China October 16, 2024. Tingshu Wang/File Photo

BEIJING - China will expand its visa-free arrangements to include Japan, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro and other countries, effective from Nov. 30, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2025, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

It will also extend the visa-free stay period to 30 days from 15 days for citizens of all 38 countries within its visa-free program, state television CCTV reported.

China has previously granted visa-free arrangements for South Korea and some European countries to boost tourism and trade amid a sluggish economy.

(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski and Ethan Wang; Editing by Tom Hogue and Muralikumar Anantharaman)