BEIJING - Chinese citizens will no longer have to fill in entry forms when they arrive in the country, state media said Wednesday, eliminating a major bottleneck at airports and border crossings.

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The official Xinhua News Agency, quoting the Ministry of Public Security, said the new procedure, which begins January 1, would also apply to residents of Taiwan Province.

"All Chinese citizens including mainland residents, Taiwanese and overseas Chinese will not be required to fill entry registration cards at border checkpoints. This will greatly shorten the processing time," a spokesman from the ministry was quoted as saying.

The forms were completed for more than 302 million entries and exits last year made by 262 million Chinese citizens and 40 million foreigners, it said.

Long lines are common at the Chinese mainland's border crossings, especially for travelers to Hong Kong and Macau. The country's rapidly expanding economy has created a growing middle class which is starting to travel more, especially to Southeast Asia.