Staff members welcome Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 25, 2023. Thailand extended a warm welcome to the first batch of visa-exempt flights from China on Monday, marking the launch of the nation's fresh initiative to reinvigorate its Chinese tourist market. (Photo: Xinhua)

 
China appreciates the warm welcome from Thailand to Chinese visitors and is willing to cement ties with Thailand to expand cooperation related to tourism, education and culture, a spokesperson from Chinese Foreign Ministry told the Global Times on Tuesday in response to Thailand's visa-waiver program. 

The first handful of visa-exempt flights from China reached Thailand and visitors were greeted with flowers and applause by the newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several Thai officials. 

Starting from Monday, Thailand rolled out visa-free entry for Chinese tourists which runs until the end of February, 2024. 

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that China welcomes Thailand visa policy to Chinese tourists and appreciates the warm welcome from Thai prime minister. 

Wang said that China and Thailand are close and friendly neighbors and a community with a shared future. To strengthen personnel exchanges is not only a natural part of carrying forward the traditional friendship between China and Thailand as one family, but also an important part of promoting the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future in the new era.

China is ready to work with Thailand to expand people-to-people and cultural cooperation in tourism, education and culture so as to bring the Chinese and Thai people closer to each other, Wang told a press briefing .

Wang also highlighted that as more Chinese travel abroad this year, China also welcomes more international visitors to the country. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has continuously optimized visas processes for international visitors this year and also guided embassies around the world to ensure a streamlined experience for foreigners to visit China, according to Wang. 

China has optimized visa application forms for foreigners traveling to the country. The optimization involves seven major items and 15 sub-items, which are mainly related to the applicant's educational background, family members' information, past travel experience, among others.

Global Times