"Henan Tour for Foreign Visa Officers in China" Visa Policy Interpretation Seminar Held

“外国驻华签证官走进河南”签证政策解读座谈会举行

"Can applicants check the status of their visa application and processing online after submitting the visa application form?" "Is it possible to provide expedited visa processing for applicants with up coming imminent travel dates?" "When the required documents for a visa application are complex, can duplicate materials be exempt from resubmission?"

“提交签证申请表后，能否在线查询签证申请和处理状态？”“能否为出访时间临近的申请人提供签证加急办理服务？”“办理签证所需材料比较复杂时，对于重复提交的材料能否进行简化？”

On the morning of October 18, a seminar on visa policy interpretation for foreign consular officers in China was held at the Henan Luxembourg Center, which was jointly organized by the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Office of Henan. Thirteen visa officers from various embassies in China, representing nine countries, including Argentina, Spain, and the UK, delivered authoritative interpretations of their countries' current visa policies at the seminar.

10月18日上午，在河南卢森堡中心，由外交部领事司、省政府外办共同举办的“外国驻华签证官走进河南”签证政策解读座谈会举行。来自阿根廷、西班牙、英国等9个国家的13名驻华使馆签证官在座谈会上对各自国家现行的签证政策进行了权威解读。

Henan has intensified its opening-up efforts, forging closer connections with countries around the world. The number of individuals embarking on business negotiations, academic pursuits, work trips, and travel abroad is on the rise year by year. The seminar on visa policy interpretation highlights the attention that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign embassies and consulates in China have given to Henan. Through face-to-face communication, Henan has strengthened mutual understanding with these embassies. Both parties are committed to deepening cooperation, establishing communication channels, and providing more efficient and convenient visa services for Henan-based enterprises and residents seeking to travel abroad.

当前河南开放的大门越开越大，与世界各国的联系更加紧密，出国开展商务洽谈、学习深造、工作和旅行的人数也在逐年增加。此次签证政策解读座谈会的举办，充分体现了外交部和各国驻华使领馆对河南的高度重视。通过面对面的沟通交流，河南与各国驻华使馆间进一步增进了解，双方将深化协作，畅通对接渠道，为河南企业和居民“走出去”提供更加高效便捷的签证服务。

At the same time, various visa-free policies in China have been implemented in Henan, making it easier and more convenient for people from all over the world to visit the province.

与此同时，中国各类免签政策在河南落地，使世界各国人民赴豫更加高效、便捷。

Since December 1^st of last year, China has successively implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 20 countries, including France and Germany. Individuals from these countries holding ordinary passports can now enter China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa. On July 15th, the National Immigration Administration announced the implementation of a 144- hour visa-free transit policy at Zhengzhou Airport in Henan Province. This policy applies to the administrative region of Henan Province, providing foreign tourists with the convenience of "enjoying an impromptu getaway to Henan".

去年12月1日以来，中国陆续对法国、德国等20个国家实施单方面免签政策，这些国家持普通护照人员来华经商、旅游观光、探亲访友和过境不超过15天，可免办签证入境。7月15日，国家移民管理局发布公告，即日起，在河南郑州航空口岸实施144小时过境免签政策，停留区域为河南省行政区域，越来越多的外国游客有了“说走就走游河南”的便利。

"The visa-free policy has gained widespread recognition in Switzerland." Tang Kaining, Director of the Visa Office at the Swiss Embassy in China, told reporters that his friends had mentioned over phone that to visit him in China, all that was  needed was to book a plane ticket - no visa required.  

“免签政策在瑞士已经受到广泛认可。”瑞士驻华大使馆签证处主任唐凯宁告诉记者，他的朋友曾在电话中表示，若想到中国拜访他，无需签证，只需要预订一张机票。 

In Tang Kaining's view, the introduction of various visa-free policies in China has not only simplified travel procedures, but also deepened friendly relations between countries. "Visa-free policies have attracted more foreign tourists to China and promoted international exchanges and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, and other fields," Tang Kaining said.

在唐凯宁看来，中国各类免签政策的推出，不仅简化了旅行手续，更加深了国与国之间的友好关系。“免签政策不仅吸引了更多外国游客来华旅行，还促进了教育、科技、文化等多个领域的国际交流与合作。”唐凯宁说。

The Foreign Affairs Office of Henan will continue to enhance communication and coordination with foreign embassies and consulates in China, improve communication mechanisms, and expand friendly cooperative relationships between Henan and other countries, aiming to create more international exchange platforms that promote high-level openness.

未来，省政府外办将继续加强与各国驻华使领馆的对接联系，不断完善沟通联络机制，巩固扩展我省与各国的友好合作关系，为推动高水平对外开放搭建更多的国际交流平台。(记者/童林 河南日报社全媒体记者/杨佳欣 魏凯 编译/陈静 审校/丁岚)

 Web editors: Tong Lin, Cao Jingyi