Indonesia added to China's visa-free list

China on Thursday granted Indonesian citizens a visa-free transit stay of up to 10 days, expanding the number of countries eligible for the policy to 55.

The visa-free transit arrangement allows travelers to enter China through any of 60 designated ports without a visa, provided they hold valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region. Eligible travelers can stay in designated areas for up to 10 days.

Travelers entering China under this policy are allowed to do so for the purpose of tourism, business, family and exchange-related visits.

The announcement by the National Immigration Administration came after Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Indonesia in late May.

An administration official said the expansion of the visa-free transit policy is an important step toward enhancing China's exchanges and cooperation with members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is also expected to help facilitate trade and investment between China and Indonesia, and strengthen the good momentum in bilateral ties.

Fu Congcong, an associate professor at the School of Asian Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the move will likely lead to more business and investment trips by Indonesians to China, providing fresh momentum for economic cooperation.

China is Indonesia's largest trading partner. Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, is Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Bilateral trade reached $147.8 billion last year, a 6.1 percent increase year-on-year, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Investment and infrastructure cooperation between the two countries has also thrived, with landmark projects including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor.

Fu said that cooperation between China and Indonesia-both major developing countries and key members of the Global South-holds strategic and global significance.

The visa-free policy, alongside initiatives such as scholarships and youth exchange programs, will "open the gate for the emerging middle class, students and young people in Indonesia to understand China," he said.

He added that the move is part of China's push for "soft connectivity" with neighboring countries and reflects a foreign policy that prioritizes cooperation and inclusiveness.