Looking at the recent acceleration of China's development from a "defensive" to an "offensive" in international public opinion, in addition to the continuous jump in comprehensive national strength, one of the most important reasons is that China's large-scale implementation of the 144-hour transit visa-free policy is producing more than expected results.
As soon as this trick came out, everyone was shocked. The 144-hour transit visa-free policy not only greatly facilitates the experience of foreign tourists entering China, but also serves as a sharp pair of scissors to cut through the "information cocoon" constructed by the Western media with stereotypes and prejudices imposed on China.
On overseas social media, many foreign bloggers have posted Vlogs of their travels in China, and these real and vivid videos are like open windows, allowing global netizens to see China's beautiful rivers and mountains, customs and customs, as well as the unique enthusiasm and tolerance. Many pictures and videos quickly became popular and became a hot topic on international social media, and "China Travel" became the focus of attention for a while.
In the first quarter of this year, the number of foreigners visiting China increased by a staggering threefold compared to the same period last year, and the number of visa-free foreign tourists surged by 266.1 percent, according to the latest data from China's Immigration Administration. Behind this data is the great attraction of China's tourism market and the strong charm of Chinese culture. It shows that China has become a top country in the global tourism culture.
The flock of foreign tourists to China has not only brought unprecedented prosperity to China's tourism industry, but also established a more authentic, diverse and inclusive image of China in the international community.
The widespread implementation of this policy has been highly praised online. There is considerable public opinion that the 144-hour transit visa-free policy was proposed by Huo Qigang, a deputy to the National People's Congress. The reason is that Huo Qigang submitted a proposal on optimizing the visa-free transit policy for overseas tourists in Guangdong during the two sessions of the National People's Congress in 2023.
In fact, the implementation of the 144-hour transit visa-free policy is not the result of the proposal of a single person or organization, but the result of the joint promotion of relevant departments and institutions based on the strategic consideration of the country's opening up to the outside world and promoting international exchanges and cooperation. The 144-hour transit visa-free policy came into effect on January 30, 2016. At that time, in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, the 144-hour transit visa exemption policy for foreigners from some countries was implemented.
In the process of implementing this policy, some deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have put forward relevant suggestions, which have promoted the in-depth implementation and continuous optimization of the policy, and the scope of countries covered by the transit visa-free policy has gradually expanded. At present, the number has increased to 54 countries, and 20 cities in China have implemented 144-hour transit visa-free.
It can be said that Huo Qigang is one of the most important proposers and promoters of this policy.
Since May 1, 2019, Guangdong Province has officially implemented a 144-hour transit visa-free policy, covering people from 53 countries with valid international travel documents. After the resumption of the policy after the epidemic, Huo Qigang noticed that there were some problems in the implementation of the policy. For example, it is difficult for mainland tour guides to receive tourists at Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, which restricts the use of high-speed rail for tour groups. The requirement to participate in a tour limits the type and number of visitors; Only more than 50 countries can benefit, and the coverage is not large enough.
In order to solve these problems, Fok Qigang put forward three suggestions: first, to provide mainland tour guides with special work visas for the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station; Second, under the premise of controllable risks, foreign independent travelers will be gradually allowed to apply for a 144-hour transit visa exemption on their own; The third is to gradually increase the list of countries that are exempt from visas for transit in Guangdong for 144 hours, and include the "Belt and Road" countries in the list of visa-free countries. These proposals aim to further enhance the transit visa-free policy, enhance the convenience of foreigners entering and exiting Guangdong Province, and strengthen the co-operation between the tourism industries of the Mainland and Hong Kong.
In addition to Huo Qigang, some people also put forward relevant suggestions and appeals. Taking Xi'an as an example, Yuan Jinglian, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a member of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and deputy general manager of the Provincial Foreign Economic and Trade Group, suggested that Xi'an implement a 144-hour visa-free policy for foreigners at a meeting of the Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Looking back now, the 144-hour transit visa-free policy is undoubtedly a trump card for China's foreign propaganda, and it is also an important national conspiracy, which is debunking the international stigma and misreading of China in a very fast way.
However, no matter how good a policy is, we must also see the disadvantages that it may bring, so that we can intensify our worries, pursue advantages and avoid disadvantages, and prevent problems before they occur.
The past does not forget the teacher of the future. In the thirteenth century, after traveling in China, Marco Polo wrote "Marco Polo's Travels", which described in detail the prosperity and richness of ancient China at that time, including the abundance of precious goods such as spices, silk, and porcelain, as well as the prosperity of the city and the convenience of transportation.
These descriptions greatly stimulated the yearning and greed of Europeans for China, and some European countries began to covet China's wealth and resources. This greed eventually paved the way for later colonial aggression and plunder, such as the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, which brought huge disasters and economic losses to China.
Similarly, although the highly open policy of the Tang Dynasty promoted cultural exchanges and economic development, it also made it easier for external forces to penetrate into the Tang Dynasty.
With the changes in the domestic and foreign policies of the Tang Dynasty rulers and the development of social economy, the policy of opening up also led to more and more external troubles to a certain extent, which brought trouble to the rule. The Anshi Rebellion led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty, which was due to the reuse of the mixed-race Hu man An Lushan as the border town guard, and the overthrow of the country without discipline and bottom line, which led to the country being in a state of peril.
Although the implementation of the 144-hour transit visa-free policy is only the initial result, and our opening-up policy is far from the situation where it needs to be reversed, it is still necessary to have a certain sense of prevention. Because, neither over-opening nor over-isolation is a good thing, and neither extreme is desirable.
Of course, we dare to make friends in all corners of the world, turn enemies into friends, and turn harmony into beauty, and the most important confidence must be the continuous enhancement of national strength, long-term political communication and social stability, and the most hard-core national defense force to guard the splendid mountains and rivers and the lights of thousands of homes at all times. Friends come with good wine, enemies come with shotguns.
That's the best.
Xie Xiaowen: Strategic scholar. He mainly commented on current politics, business, railways, and culture. WeChat public account: zgmjply (commentator Xie Xiaowen)