Kazakhstan has welcomed nearly 130,000 Chinese tourists over the span of five months
Since November last year when both countries waived visa requirements for mutual travel of citizens, some 126,000 Chinese citizens have visited Kazakhstan, while 173,000 Kazakh citizens have visited China, according to Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov on April 1.
Smadiyarov highlighted the ministry's intention to broaden the list of visa-free countries for Kazakh passport holders.
The mutual exemption from visa requirements between Kazakhstan and China officially commenced on November 10 last year. Under this agreement, citizens are permitted a visa-free stay of up to 30 calendar days upon crossing the state border, with a cumulative total of 90 days within 180 days. However, the visa-free arrangement does not authorize individuals for work, study, or missionary activities. For stays exceeding 30 days, individuals must obtain an entry visa of the appropriate category in advance.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Xi Jinping inaugurated the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China at the China National Opera House on March 29.
Furthermore, last year saw the expansion of the list of visa-free countries for holders of Kazakhstan passports to 82 states, covering various categories of passports, including 29 states for civil passports. Additionally, Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) embarked on efforts to streamline the process of obtaining Schengen visas for Kazakh citizens.(Source:astanatimes)
