China US Photo: VCG

The US pledged to issue one-year multiple entry visas to Chinese journalists ahead of the virtual meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, media reported. China will grant the same visas and treatment for US journalists in China once the US promise is in place. 

Media reported on Tuesday night that China and the US have reached consensus over reporters in the other country ahead of the Xi-Biden virtual meeting, which is exciting news for journalists from both countries. 

China and the US guaranteed to each other the normal travel of correspondents between the two countries under epidemic prevention regulations, China News Service reported. 

The two countries promised to approve visas for correspondents in accordance with the law and regulations in the future. 

Analysts pointed out that the consensus on journalists reflects the new normal of reciprocity and parity between China and the US, as it follows more than a year of painstaking consultations between the two countries over the treatment of their respective correspondents in the other country. 

For a long time, Chinese journalists in the US were only granted single-entry visas, which is very inconvenient. Some of them even faced difficulties returning to their job in the US after visiting their families or participating in meetings in China. 

In March 2020, the US classified a number of Chinese media outlets as "foreign agents" and limited their presence in the US, forcing 60 Chinese journalists to leave the country. As a countermeasure, China expelled journalists from three major US newspapers in China, including the New York Times.

In May 2020, the US significantly reduced the length of stay of Chinese journalists in the US to less than 90 days, with extensions to be applied every three months. Later in August 2020, the US did not respond to Chinese journalists' applications to extend their visas. 

Observers recognized the efforts from both sides, noting that the consensus has shown mutually beneficial achievements can be facilitated by the two countries through mutual respect and calm communication.