China to Implement 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Singapore
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Wong Chuan Chye, who is on a visit to China, and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who co-chaired a meeting of the Sino-Singapore Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Tianjin on July 7, said that on the basis of the increasing number of flights between the two countries, Singapore and China will promote more exchanges of people through the 30-day reciprocal visa-free arrangement between the two countries.
The Joint Commission on Bilateral Co-operation (JCBC) reached 24 outcomes, the most important of which was the signing of an upgraded China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which gives Singapore greater market access to China's services sector; China's commitment not to restrict Singaporean investors' shareholdings in 22 areas, including construction, retailing and wholesaling; and the inclusion of a new chapter on telecommunication services. Of particular interest is the plan to sign a 30-day mutual visa waiver agreement to support people-to-people exchanges, the details of which are being discussed between the two countries.
Hwang Chuan Choi, known as Lee Hsien Loong's successor, has been named as the leader of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) ahead of the next Singkawi general election in November 2025. He said at the meeting that this year's JCBC meeting had special significance. Firstly, it is the first JCBC meeting after Star China upgraded the bilateral relationship to an "all-round, high-quality and forward-looking partnership" in March this year; secondly, this year's meeting was held in Tianjin, which also marks the 15th anniversary of the development of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city; and thirdly, it is the first time that he and Mr. Ding Xuexiang are co-chairing a JCBC meeting.
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