China & Thailand Announced Reciprocal Visa-free Scheme

China & Thailand Announced Reciprocal Visa-free Scheme

China and Thailand announced a reciprocal visa-free scheme for their citizens, following successful negotiations on Tuesday, Jan 2^nd.

Thailand had previously introduced a temporary visa waiver for Chinese visitors in September 2023, which was initially due to expire in February 2024. This new scheme is a follow-up that extends the validity period of the previous initiative to permanent. Srettha Thavisin, Thai Prime Minister, announced this decision after a cabinet meeting, emphasizing that this would underpin the rapport between the two countries.

In a reciprocal gesture, China has agreed to provide the same privilege to Thai visitors. This complements the visa-free policy for six countries previously released in November 2023, which is still on trial until November 2024. “Competent authorities of both sides are communicating closely on the matter and we are looking forward to the implementation of the relevant arrangement,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a regular briefing in Beijing.

The mutual visa waiver is scheduled to take effect in March 2024 and is planned to be a permanent arrangement. Further details regarding eligibility criteria are still under discussion and will be disclosed later. Therefore, visitors from Thailand will likely be able to attend the RemaxWorld Expo in Zhuhai in October 2024 without having to apply for a visa.

The reciprocal visa-free policy demonstrates the commitment of both countries to promote economic and diplomatic communications. This will be a good sign for prospective buyers intending to purchase printing devices and consumables in China.

Related:

• China Announces Visa-free Policy for Six Countries