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"contents": "<p>Spokesperson Mao Ning did not specify which other countries besides France would be covered by the extension. The policy was scheduled to expire at the end of this year for over 30 nations such as Spain and Germany.</p><p>Under the scheme, visitors from eligible countries can enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 30 days without a visa.</p><p>China has offered visa-free entry to citizens from dozens of countries including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and several nations in South America and the Gulf region.</p><p>The move is part of Beijing's efforts to woo foreign visitors, revive a tourism sector battered by years of strict COVID-19 controls, and boost foreign engagement.</p><p>China is also expanding its outreach to the European Union, a key trading partner, amid fraught trade ties.</p><p>Beijing confirmed that its one-year suspension of expanded rare earth export controls, announced after a meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea, will also apply to the EU, the bloc said after officials met in Brussels last week to alleviate tensions.</p><p>The two sides agreed to continue communication and exchanges to promote the stability and smooth operation of China-EU industrial and supply chains, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Monday.</p><p>(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen, Liz Lee and Ethan Wang; Editing by Kim Coghill and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)</p>",
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"summary": "In a bid to charm the globe and revive its tourism sector, China has thrown open its doors to visa-free entry for visitors from dozens of countries, while quietly extending this hospitality beyond France—though the details remain as hazy as a Beijing skyline.",
"introduction": "<ul><li>China extends visa-free entry for eligible countries, including France, to boost tourism and foreign engagement.</li><li>The policy allows visitors to stay for up to 30 days without a visa, benefiting over 30 nations.</li><li>Beijing aims to revive its tourism sector post-COVID and strengthen ties with the European Union amid trade tensions.</li><li>China confirms suspension of rare earth export controls will apply to the EU, promoting stability in industrial and supply chains.</li></ul>",
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Foreign tourists walk near the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, 17 December 2024. According to an announcement from China's National Immigration Administration on 17 December, China will now offer 10 days of visa-free transit for international travelers from 54 nations, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers to 240 hours, or 10 days, from the original 72-144 hours, as authorities aim to attract more foreign visitors. EPA/WU HAO 