A global stocktake, the Downing Street Accord, and new visa-free travel
Michael Horlick, MPM, M Ed., PMP
Educator, Lexicographer, and Incurable Idealist
Terms to note from today’s PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference:
Today’s quote:
为进一步促进中外人员往来，服务高质量发展和高水平对外开放，中方决定试行扩大单方面免签国家范围，对法国、德国、意大利、荷兰、西班牙、马来西亚6个国家持普通护照人员试行单方面免签政策。
To further facilitate cross-border travel and China’s high-quality development and high-standard opening up, China has decided to apply unilateral visa-free policy to more countries on a trial basis, which involves extending visa-free treatment to travelers holding ordinary passports from six countries, namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. From December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, citizens from the above-mentioned countries holding ordinary passports can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)?
Previous PRC history of the term:
?? 更好地便利两国公民来华，中方决定自7月26日0时起恢复对新加坡、文莱持普通护照来华经商、旅游观光、探亲访友和过境人员15天免签入境政策。?
To facilitate the travel of Singaporean and Bruneian citizens to China, we have decided to resume the 15-day visa-free entry policy for Singaporean and Bruneian citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes starting from July 26 [2023].? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on July 24, 2023)?
?? 2017年，阿联酋在中东国家中率先获得持普通护照公民赴华免签待遇。?
Starting from 2017, UAE citizens traveling on ordinary passports may visit China visa-free. The UAE is the first Middle East country to have been granted such visa-exemption treatment by China.? (Xi_Jinping_Working Hand in Hand for a Better Future_ 携手前行共创未来2018年_7月18日)?
?? 此访双方将宣布商签互免两国持普通护照人员签证的谅解备忘录，这是中国同东盟国家启动的首个类似协定谈判，将为两国人员往来提供便利。?
The two sides [China and Thailand ] will announce the decision to negotiate and sign an MOU on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, the first of its kind between China and an ASEAN country. It will facilitate personnel interflow between our two countries.? (Li Keqiang's speech at the Thai parliament_ 李克强总理在泰国国会的演讲_2013_10_11)
Today’s quote:
联合国气候变化迪拜大会（COP28）主席国阿联酋将举行世界气候行动峰会，为COP28提供政治引领。COP28将举行《巴黎协定》生效后首次全球盘点，对全球气候治理进程具有重要阶段性意义。?
The UAE will hold the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai as the chair of the UN COP28 to provide political guidance for COP28. The first-ever global stocktake since the Paris Agreement came into effect will conclude at COP28, which is a key milestone for global climate governance.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)
据报道，当地时间22日，韩国总统尹锡悦和英国首相苏纳克签署《唐宁街协议》。双方强调两国对台湾问题的基本立场没有变化，台海和平稳定是国际社会安全与繁荣不可或缺的要素。?
According to reports, on November 22 local time, ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed The Downing Street Accord, in which the two sides state that “We emphasise that our basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable element in the security and prosperity of the international community.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)
领英推荐
Today’s quote:
应哈萨克斯坦第一副总理斯克利亚尔、土库曼斯坦副总理兼外长梅列多夫邀请，中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理丁薛祥将于11月26日至30日访问哈萨克斯坦、土库曼斯坦并举行中哈合作委员会第十一次会议、中土合作委员会第六次会议。
At the invitation of Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will visit Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and hold the 11th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee from November 26 to 30 [2023].? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)?
Previous PRC history of the term:
?? 中哈合作委员会、中土合作委员会作为统筹、指导和协调双方合作的重要机制，在落实元首共识、推动各领域合作方面发挥着重要作用。?
As major mechanisms for planning, guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation, the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee have played a vital role in following through on the common understandings between the heads of state and promoting cooperation in various fields.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)?
?? 昨天，张高丽副总理同萨金塔耶夫举行了中哈合作委员会双方主席会晤。双方商定，加快推进两国发展战略对接，共同推动丝绸之路经济带建设，促进两国关系不断向前发展。双方梳理了中哈合作委员会第七次会议以来工作进展情况，深入讨论了两国在产能、能源、金融和投资、经贸、农业、互联互通、人文领域的合作。?
Yesterday [July 12, 2016], Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli co-hosted with Mr. Sagintayev the chairmen's meeting of China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee. The two sides agreed to further align their development strategies, jointly promote the Silk Road Economic Belt, and move forward bilateral relations. The two sides also reviewed the progress made after the 7th meeting of China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee, delved into topics concerning cooperation on production capacity, energy, finance and investment, trade, agriculture, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on July 13, 2016)
Today’s quote:
应哈萨克斯坦第一副总理斯克利亚尔、土库曼斯坦副总理兼外长梅列多夫邀请，中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理丁薛祥将于11月26日至30日访问哈萨克斯坦、土库曼斯坦并举行中哈合作委员会第十一次会议、中土合作委员会第六次会议。?
At the invitation of Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will visit Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and hold the 11th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee from November 26 to 30 [2023].? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)?
Previous PRC history of the term:
?? 中哈合作委员会、中土合作委员会作为统筹、指导和协调双方合作的重要机制，在落实元首共识、推动各领域合作方面发挥着重要作用。?
As major mechanisms for planning, guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation, the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee have played a vital role in following through on the common understandings between the heads of state and promoting cooperation in various fields.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 24, 2023)?
?? 中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理韩正将于11月22日同土库曼斯坦副总理谢·别尔德穆哈梅多夫以视频方式举行中土合作委员会第五次会议。?
Han Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will hold the fifth meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee via video link with Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan on November 22.? (Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on November 19, 2021)
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