(AFP) - Starting Wednesday, China will resume issuing "all types of entry visas", including tourist ones, after strict restrictions imposed for three years that closed the country to the world due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

China, the first country in which the then-unknown virus spread, suddenly closed in March 2020 all its borders to entry visa holders, including residence permit holders, for fear of a new wave of infections from abroad.

At the height of the epidemic, many foreign residents found themselves unable to enter the country after leaving China while the Chinese authorities drastically reduced the number of international flights.

However, these procedures were gradually eased with the resumption of issuing entry visas for business or for family reunification.

However, movement between China and abroad remained very limited for about three years due to the imposition of a mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Chinese territory for all arrivals.

Last December, China abruptly lifted most of the measures it imposed in three years, which were among the toughest in the world and severely affected its economy and sparked protests across the country.

In January, the Chinese authorities abandoned the mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving from abroad, which was one of the most prominent measures within the framework of the "zero Covid" strategy adopted by the government.

The suspension of tourist entry visas since 2020 was the last measure still in effect within this strict health policy.
Starting Wednesday, China will again start issuing "all types of entry visas" to foreign nationals, according to a memorandum published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese embassies in the United States and France published a similar note electronically.

In addition to new applications that will be studied and approved, visas issued before March 28, 2020 that are still valid will allow their holders to enter China, as stated in the memorandum.

The announcement will allow those arriving to Shanghai on cruise ships or to the tourist island of Hainan (south), as well as to some tourist groups coming from Hong Kong and Macau and from countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to travel without a visa.

This announcement comes after the conclusion of the important annual session of the Chinese parliament, which approved President Xi Jinping's assumption of a new five-year term, his third at the head of the country, and the appointment of a new prime minister.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang warned Monday that it would be difficult for his country to achieve its growth target of "about 5 percent" this year, one of the lowest levels of growth in decades in the world's second economic power.

In 2022, China recorded a growth of 3%, far from the primary target of 5.5%, under the influence of health restrictions and the real estate crisis, which had a severe impact on economic activity.

Before closing its borders to the world, China received about 65.7 million international visitors in 2019, according to figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Since January, Chinese nationals can again leave the country for sightseeing tours.

During the epidemic, only movement for emergency reasons was permitted, while the Chinese authorities suspended the issuance of passports.