Australia will be included in China’s visa waiver program, following an announcement by Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his official visit to Australia. The signing of a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on education and research between Australia and China was also witnessed by Premier Li and Australian Prime Minister, The Hon Anthony Albanese MP.
Although specific details of the visa waiver program were not provided, similar agreements with other countries allow people to enter China visa-free for up to 15 days for business, tourism or visiting relatives and friends. This will be welcome news to those in the international education sector who are frequent travellers to China (and frequent visitors to the Embassy and Consular offices around Australia).
In the statement on joint outcomes of the Australia-China Annual Leaders’ Meeting, the two sides welcomed the further increase of people-to-people exchanges and highlighted the important role these played in deepening the bilateral relationship.
They also welcomed the increasing number of students, tourists and business people travelling in both directions, underpinned by the growing number of direct flights.
Other education-related outcomes from the visit include:
- China and Australia agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business and visiting family members, to better facilitate personal exchanges.
- Agreed to hold the 10th Meeting of the Joint Science and Technology Commission in Australia.
There are no further details of the content of the MOU yet, although these are usually published on the Department of Education website once signed and will be unpacked in a future article in The Koala News if it is.
