In the bag of Xi Jinping, the Chinese President on an official visit to FranceA great gift for French travellers - whether on business or pleasure. The possibility of visiting China without a visa, introduced at the end of 2023, has officially been extended until the end of 2025. French nationals will now be able to travel to the Middle Kingdom without having to apply for a visa to a maximum stay of 14 days.
This extension by the Chinese government also applies to 11 other countries around the worldmost of which are in Europe. These include Belgium and Switzerland.
For its part, France is taking a small step towards making it easier for Chinese visitors to get here. In particular, theChinese business travellers who will be able to enter and leave France without having to apply for a visa every time for various trade fairs and business meetings. A "fast track" system could even be designed for them and tested from next year.
Expected impact on air transport
This reciprocal liberalisation of entry and exit conditions between France and China should boosting overhead lines.
At the moment, Paris CDG is linked to six cities in mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Canton), Shenzhen, Xiamen and Chongqing). Apart from Beijing and Shanghai, which are served by two or three daily flights operated by Air France or Chinese airlines, frequencies to China are still far from what they were before Covid. What's more, the pandemic led to the suspension of flights to Chengdu by Air Chine and to Wuhan by Air France. They are currently no longer linked to Paris. But it is likely that these two destinations will return in the short term.
The only new feature announced so far: the launch of the Marseille-Shanghai link by Shanghai Airlinesa subsidiary of China Eastern, with three frequencies a week.
