Medical and Hospital News
TRADE WARS
China relaxes visa, urban residency rules to boost economy
China relaxes visa, urban residency rules to boost economy
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Aug 4, 2023

China will allow some foreigners to obtain visas on arrival and rural residents to settle more easily in cities as part of a series of measures aimed at boosting its flagging economy.

The relaxations aim to "promote the free movement" of "people, vehicles, information and data", an official from the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.

China's post-Covid recovery has run out of steam in recent months, dragged down by sluggish consumption and a real estate sector in crisis.

GDP growth increased by just 0.8 percent from the first to second quarter of the year, and youth unemployment has reached record highs at over 20 percent.

In response, the ministry announced 26 new measures on Thursday, including a new visa policy for foreign businesspeople.

Those who come to China to participate in trade negotiations, expos, conferences or to invest will be able to obtain visas on arrival, provided they present the necessary documents.

Previously, travellers had to apply for a visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate in their country of departure.

Also announced Thursday was a further relaxation of the controversial permanent residence system, or "hukou", which for decades has classified Chinese people as either "urban" or "rural".

Chinese citizens are entitled to settle, live and work in any location across the country.

But because of the residence system, they can only benefit from certain public services, including health insurance and education, where they are registered -- generally their place of birth.

This arrangement, which is nominally aimed at avoiding unbridled urbanisation, in practice causes many Chinese to give up settling in the city due to the difficulties of attaining full access to public services.

To soften these restrictions, China will "further relax registration requirements" and "encourage people from the countryside who have the ability to work and live in the cities to settle there with their family".

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
Stocks struggle to recover from selloff, Fed rate fears linger
Hong Kong (AFP) Aug 3, 2023
Asian markets fluctuated Thursday following a plunge on Wall Street as a forecast-beating US jobs report revived worries about the Federal Reserve's interest rate-hiking campaign. While the fallout from Fitch's US debt rating downgrade settled, profit-taking and rising Treasury yields kept pressure on investors heading into what is considered a less appealing time of year for equities. The ratings agency's decision to lower Washington's gold-plated AAA classification rattled markets, fuelling a ... read more

TRADE WARS
At least 16 killed in landslide in Georgia

China says natural disasters caused 147 deaths or disappearances in July

Hundreds protest as Lebanon marks 3 years since Beirut blast

Burnt-out car transport ship limps into Dutch port

TRADE WARS
New Galileo station goes on duty

Potential earthquake precursor discovered through GPS measurements

Northrop Grumman's new airborne navigation system achieves successful flight test

Fugro and GomSpace deliver world class position and timing accuracy onboard LEO satellites

TRADE WARS
Indigenous chiefs demand action from Brazil govt on land rights

New insights into the origin of the Indo-European languages

Vibrating vests translate music for deaf concertgoers

Gullah Geechee, descendants of enslaved, fight to protect US island

TRADE WARS
Two men arrested over wolf shooting in Hungary

Running wild: stray dogs threaten rare Balkan lynx

Protecting wildlife and restoring natural ecosystems

Wildlife lovers urged to join UK's annual butterfly count

TRADE WARS
US widens blacklist of firms over Uyghur forced labor concerns

Ancient pathogens emerging from melting ice and permafrost risk eroding ecosystems

Croatia targets latest climate-change threat: mosquitoes

MIT researchers to lead a new center for continuous mRNA manufacturing

TRADE WARS
US says concerned over Chinese reclamation in Manila Bay

US House panel probes BlackRock, MSCI on China investment flow

Hong Kong public broadcaster cancels LGBTQ radio show

'Happy Dancing' routine boosts fitness in fast-ageing China

TRADE WARS
Report faults British government for 'dismal understanding' of Wagner threat

China tells Myanmar junta to 'root out' online scam groups

US sanctions Chinese, Mexican entities over drug equipment

Malaysia searches Chinese ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks

TRADE WARS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.