Visa-free for Australians travelling to China welcomed by people wanting to reunite with family

Posted on June 19, 2024

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By Bang Xiao, Ilham Issak and Toby Mann

Posted 9h ago

  • In short: A proposal to end visas for Australians travelling to China for 15 days or fewer has been well received as a move to make trips between the two countries more convenient.
  • It will also save Australians about $110, which is the current cost for a single-entry tourist visa.
  • What’s next? The visa-free scheme for short trips is due to come into effect in the next few months.

Jenny Zhang has plans to travel to China soon to reunite with her 100-year-old mum, and she has welcomed a move to give Australians visa-free entry for short trips.

“This is the best policy. It will provide great convenience to Chinese people living in Australia,” she said.

“The Chinese community is very happy about this news.”

The 15-day visa-free travel for Australians was announced by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday, after a formal meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shake hands while standing in front of national flags.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra.  (Reuters: Mick Tsikas/Pool)

“We agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business and visiting family members — so as to better facilitate personal exchanges, China will also include Australia in its Visa Waiver Program,” the premier said.

This change will also save Australians about $110, the current cost for a single-entry tourist visa.

The new visa-free travel scheme is due to come in within the next few months.

The thirteen countries that have visa-free travel arrangements with China.
The 13 countries that have visa-free travel arrangements with China.(ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser)

China’s tourism industry peaked in 2019 at a value of $580 billion and has been recovering slowly, according to Statista.

They had forecast that it could take another five years to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

Three major highlights of Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit.

Not everyone happy with move

While Ms Zhang was thrilled with the upcoming change, Ramila Chanisheff, the president of the Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association said it would not help members of her community.

“Our family members … we can not even talk to them — let alone visit them,” she told the ABC.

“Not all of us will be given visas to visit our family members. And if we do, we will be worried about our safety.”

A woman with a dark top and blue and white scarf stands near a large crowd where people are waving flags in front of parliament.
Ramila Chanisheff stands outside parliament during a formal visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.(ABC News: Ilham Isaak)

Dawa Sangmo, the Chinese liaison officer of the Tibet Information Office in Canberra raised similar worries.

“The visa-free policy is not only an issue that relates to our safety, but a matter that is more beneficial to China and its government,” she told the ABC.

A woman in a woolen coat stands outside parliament with a group of flag-waving protesters behind her.
Dawa Sangmo stands outside parliament with a group of flag-waving protesters behind her.(ABC News: Ilham Isaak)

There was not much detail in the announcement, but Premier Li did mention it would be “reciprocal”, making it easier for Chinese travellers to enter Australia.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the second highest amount of tourists visiting Australia came from China, only behind arrivals from New Zealand, as of April this year.

However, overall, the amount of people travelling out of China is down 40 per cent from pre-COVID levels in 2019, Reuters reported.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-19/visa-free-travel-china-australia-beijing-li-qiang/103996634

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