InviewoftherapidspreadofCOVID-19acrosstheworld,ChinahasdecidedtotemporarilysuspendtheentryintoChinabyforeignnationalsholdingvisasorresidencepermitsstillvalidtothetimeofthisannouncement,effectivefrom0a.m.,28march2020.EntrybyforeignnationalswithAPECBusinessTravelCardswillbesuspendedaswell.Policiesincludingportvisas,24/72/144-hourvisa-freetransitpolicy,Hainan30-dayvisa-freepolicy,15-dayvisa-freepolicyspecifiedforforeigncruise-group-tourthroughShanghaiPort,Guangdong144-hourvisa-freepolicyspecifiedforforeigntourgroupsfromHongKongorMacaoSAR,andGuangxi15-dayvisa-freepolicyspecifiedforforeigntourgroupsofASEANcountrieswillalsobetemporarilysuspended.Entrywithdiplomatic,service,courtesyorCvisaswillnotbeaffected.ForeignnationalscomingtoChinafornecessaryeconomic,trade,scientificortechnologicalactivitiesoroutofemergencyhumanitarianneedsmayapplyforvisasatChineseembassiesorconsulates.Entrybyforeignnationalswithvisasissuedafterthisannouncementwillnotbeaffected.
ThesuspensionisatemporarymeasurethatChinaiscompelledtotakeinlightoftheoutbreaksituationandthepracticesofothercountries.Chinawillstayinclosetouchwithallsidesandproperlyhandlepersonnelexchangeswiththerestoftheworldunderthespecialcircumstances.Theabove-mentionedmeasureswillbecalibratedinlightoftheevolvingsituationandannouncedaccordingly.