China has been actively expanding its visa-free travel policy having recently inked a five-year extension with Malaysia. Amid rising trade tensions, Datuk Prof. Dr. Awang Azman Awang Pawi from Universiti Malaya explains how this move can benefit China on a global scale.
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00:00China is actively promoting visa-free travel to boost tourism and international exchanges,
00:06extending its unilateral visa-free policies to 38 countries just last year.
00:12Most recently, the country extended a five-year visa-free travel agreement with Malaysia,
00:17a deal that signals deeper regional cooperation.
00:20Datuk Prof. Dr. Awang Azman Awang Bawi from University of Malaya
00:24explains how this strategy stands to benefit China on a much broader scale.
00:30China tourism sector is bouncing back from COVID-19.
00:37In 2024, it saw an impressive 48.8% jump in foreign visitor rising to 82 million up from 55 million the year before.
00:52Over half of the dose visitor came thanks to visa-free or simplified entry policies.
01:02China is a transit hub.
01:04Cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu want to be a major global transit stop.
01:12Now, traveler heading to Asia or Europe where Chinese airline can enjoy a short stay in China
01:23that helped boost the aviation sector, local tourism and airport economies.
01:29Other countries are watching this move by China.
01:33They are working closely.
01:36By early 2025, China offered visa-free entry to 38 countries, including Germany, France, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
01:50The countries in ASEAN like Indonesia and Vietnam are exploring similar ideas,
01:57especially to attract traveler from China and the West.
02:01Visa-free traveler typically spend 30% to 40% more per trip compared to visa-bound traveler.
02:09Actually, there is a huge for local economies.
02:15So, many countries see visa-free access as a fast track to boosting tourism and the trade.
02:24Now, amid trade tensions, Datuk Prof. Dr. Awan Asman says China's visa-free push
02:30is also seen as part of a broader strategy to expand its global influence.
02:35It ties into China's larger ambitions under the Belt and Road Initiative,
02:40supporting cross-border trade, digitalization and stronger economic ties worldwide.
02:47Is this part of bigger strategy by China to grow its global influence?
02:53I believe this, yes.
02:55This is just one piece of much bigger puzzle.
02:59Under the Belt and Road Initiative,
03:01easy travel help with cross-border collaboration,
03:07infrastructure, checks and academic exchanges
03:09to the digital sick road.
03:12I believe that China linked this travel policy
03:14with initiative in digital threat,
03:17AI cooperation and cross-border e-commerce.
03:21So, this visa policy,
03:24very smart soft diplomacy.
03:26It's about building trust,
03:30growing independence,
03:32interdependence and positioning China as a good connector
03:36in travel, trade and technology.
03:39technology.