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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 23, 2001

Simplifying Exit-Entry Procedures, A Vital Step for China

China's Public Security Ministry's decision to simplify the exit-entry procedures won widespread applause Thursday. The measures are viewed as an important step for Chinese peopleto further join the international community.


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Six major reform measures were announced Thursday afternoon by the Ministry of Public Security at a national meeting on exit-entry administration. The reform measures will greatly simplify procedures in this regard.

  • Before the year 2005, Chinese citizens in large and medium-sized cities who want to go abroad will be able to get a passport merely by presenting their identity cards and household registration documents to the proper authorities.

    While currently, a Chinese citizen must go through complicated formalities when applying for a passport, including getting approval from his or her work unit, and producing household registration documents and other identification materials.


  • Before the end of next year, Chinese citizens will no longer need to file applications or submit invitation letters to go abroad.


  • Starting December 1, people wishing to go to Hongkong or Macao on business will be able to stay there for as long as three years before their visas expire, and those who stay there for less than three months can get visas with no need to fulfill extra requirements on taxation or foreign exchange. Besides, the number of travelers to these places will no longer be limited.


  • Foreign tourist groups can get visas directly at Chinese ports of entry from January 1 next year.


  • Foreigners with senior management or technological expertise, and foreigners who have invested heavily in China will be allowed to stay in this country permanently and be allowed to enter China without a visa.


  • Within next year, special channels for Chinese citizens will beset up in ten more airports in Shanghai, Nanjing, Kunming, Shenyang and other parts of China, as is currently being practiced in the Capital Airport and the Shanghai-based Pudong Airport.


    • Addressing the meeting, Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang urged administrations at all levels to implement the six measures before the deadlines.

    A Vital Step for China
    The measures are viewed as an important step for Chinese peopleto further join the international community.

    "This is an irreversible trend," said Meng Yanhong, a leading historian, who noted that if China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) is considered as a milestone for its reform andopening up, such measures could be viewed as "natural outcomes" ofthe drive.

    Not long ago, some provinces in the country including Hubei, Hebei and Henan decided to reform the household registration system, permitting rural the population to move freely into cities.

    Before 1978, when China started its reform and opening up policy, natural population mobility was prohibited and a person who wanted to move his or her domicile needed approval and certification from the local authorities.

    Two decades later, sharp changes have taken place in China.

    Since its formal admission to the WTO on November 10, the Chinese economy has started to accelerate its pace in embracing the global economy, and China not only needs overseas talent to come in, but also encourages its citizens to go overseas.

    Therefore, some experts view, such measures will exactly serve this purpose. Moreover, the measures have borrowed the international practice of providing high-level foreign talent and big investors with permanent right of stay.

    "China's entry into the WTO will ensure the country participatein international cooperation in a more comprehensive manner, whilethese measures will deepen the reforms and serve the economic construction," said Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang.

    Simplifying exit-entry procedures has demonstrated the "confidence" of the country.

    Its robust economy has helped China to open its doors for its own people just as it promised to open its market to the outside world when it joined the WTO.



    Statistics show that, starting in 1989, 1.334 billion entries and exits have been recorded by China's exit-entry administrations, an annual growth of 27.91 percent, and 24.83 million trips abroad by Chinese citizens for personal reasons have been approved, an annual growth of 54 percent.



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