Cui Aimin, Director of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed that in 2019, China and Armenia and Suriname signed mutually exempt visas for ordinary passport holders and reached mutually beneficial arrangements with Angola, Uzbekistan, and Panama for multiple visas. Among them, the visa-free agreement signed with Armenia will take effect on January 19. Armenia will become the second country in Europe and Asia after Belarus to achieve a complete visa waiver, and the 15th country in the world to achieve a complete visa waiver. At present, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports can travel to 70 countries and regions around the world in the form of visa-free or visa on arrival.
In 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held consular consultations and meetings with 18 countries to discuss Chinese-foreign visa exemption agreements, visa facilitation reciprocity agreements or arrangements. At the same time, we have steadily promoted the establishment of foreign consulates in China, and reached agreements with 15 countries including Cambodia, Uruguay, and Nepal to upgrade or consulate in China.