China News Service Yiwu, January 24th Title: The visa-free policy benefits foreign businessmen in Yiwu, Zhejiang: "My business will be better"

Author Zhang Bin Liu Zilin

China's comprehensive relaxation and optimization of the continuous release of the dividends of the transit visa-free policy has made foreign businessmen in Yiwu, Zhejiang a major beneficiary group.

On January 25, markets mainly composed of Yiwu International Trade City will be closed one after another, ushering in the annual "Spring Festival Annual Holiday". In recent days, Colombian foreign businessman Johan, who has been engaged in foreign trade in Yiwu for many years, has been busy sending out the last batch of goods before the market is closed, and is also contacting foreign businessmen from other countries inspected by Yiwu after the Spring Festival.

"I have many Korean customers who need to come to China to see goods. After China has fully relaxed and optimized the transit visa-free policy, it will be more convenient for them to come to China, and my business will be better." Weiqi said.

Weiqi said that during the trade process, many foreign businesses tend to visit the site in person and often need to provide customers with invitations to help them enter the country. China's new visa-free policy has made it easier for customers to visit.

Previously, China has fully relaxed and optimized the transit visa-free policy, and the residence time for transit visa-free foreigners has been extended from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours. At the same time, 21 new ports, including the Jinhua Yiwu International Airport Port, were added as the entry and exit ports for transit visa-free people, and further expanded the stay activity area.

Yiwu is speeding up preparations and accepting favorable policies. Wang Jiaoyan, squadron leader of the Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of Yiwu Municipal Public Security Bureau, said that the bureau is strengthening communication and coordination with civil aviation, airports, border inspection and other units, and jointly promoting the construction of physical office spaces for port visas.

"We will ensure that foreign merchants who meet the visa-free entry policy enjoy efficient and convenient visa services." Wang Jiaoyan introduced that the local area also provides multilingual and one-stop services to foreigners through a mobile platform "Yijing", which integrates all-round services such as "clothing, food, housing, transportation, and business".

Ahmed, a foreign businessman from Yemen, recently handled the registration of entry accommodation for foreigners through "Yijing". He said that in Yiwu, most of the things you have to do in your life can be handled through your mobile phone, and there is no need to queue up at the window. Digital services have made foreign businesses more focused on commerce and saved a lot of time.

Data shows that in 2024, the number of overseas personnel entering Yiwu reached 569,000, and the number of overseas personnel stationed in Yiwu reached 18,500, setting a new high since 2019.