China lifts sweeping visa curbs on foreigners

The updated policy will allow for the resumption of visa-free travel for those arriving in cruise ships to Shanghai, as well as for certain tourist groups from Hong Kong. - Bloomberg

BEIJING (AFP): China will once again start issuing a range of visas to foreigners as of Wednesday (March 15), the country's foreign ministry said, in a major easing of travel restrictions in place since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move marks the latest step towards reopening China to the outside world, as Beijing breaks with the strict zero-Covid strategy that defined its pandemic response until a few months ago.