China announced on Monday that it would allow visa-free entry for citizens of Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Slovenia.
The Asian country said the new visa-waiver policy which will allow travelers from Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Slovenia to enter the country without a visa will begin October 15, 2024 and end December 31, 2025.
China made a similar move a few months ago, allowing visa-free travel from five other EU countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
China targets Greece and Cyprus with new visa-free program
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed this latest positive development for the citizens of four EU member-states. The visa-free policy will apply to passport holders from these nations who travel to China for purposes related to business, tourism, family visits, or transit for stays of no more than fifteen days.
The visa-free travel provision from China is expected to boost tourism flows between China, Greece, and Cyprus significantly in the coming months.
China hopes to attract more visitors from these famous European tourist destinations and improve business exchanges with them, as well.
The Communist Party of China and its administration have been focusing on boosting tourism following the pandemic and the massive hit this had on China’s economy.
Airlines connecting Greece and Cyprus to major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are set to benefit from this policy significantly, as travelers won’t need to go through lengthy procedures to obtain a visa before traveling.
Some key routes between Greece, Cyprus, and China include:
-Aegean Airlines: Athens (ATH) – Beijing (PEK), 3 times/week
-Air China: Shanghai (PVG) – Athens (ATH), 2 times/week
-China Southern Airlines: Guangzhou (CAN) – Athens (ATH), 2 times/week
-Cyprus Airways: Larnaca (LCA) – Beijing (PEK), 1 time/week
-Air China: Beijing (PEK) – Larnaca (LCA), 1 time/week
A clear diplomatic gesture
China’s visa-free program is perceived as a diplomatic gesture aiming to enhance relations between Beijing and geopolitically important European Union countries. China also aspires to develop stronger people-to-people connections between itself and Europe, promoting cultural understanding and cooperation.
By making short-term travel easier, Greeks and Cypriots could benefit from this approach significantly.
Lin Jian, a representative for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasized recently that this policy will be especially advantageous for those traveling for business or family trips.
With the introduction of this new visa-free travel, people from Greece and Cyprus will be able to see China’s rich historical and cultural attractions with greater ease while avoiding some of the bureaucracy.
Greek passport among strongest in the world
The Greek passport is among the most powerful in the world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.
The year 2024 saw a strong reshuffle in the list announced annually by the London-based migration consultancy. This list is comprised using IATA data to rank the passports of all countries from the most to least powerful.
The Greek passport came in fifth place, rising two positions since last year when it was ranked number seven. This is appears in fifth place alongside the passports of Malta and Switzerland, while fourth place is occupied by the passports of Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal.