China, US To Ease Visa Restrictions For Journalists

Both sides also agree to work towards arms control talks; China to facilitate travel for US businessmen

- Charissa Yong and Tan Dawn Wei

The virtual meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday yielded some immediate outcomes despite the lack of a joint statement.

China will roll out a “fast-track” channel for American businessmen to visit the country, and the two sides agreed to relax visa restrictions for journalists.

The willingness to facilitate business travel was the only concrete deliverable mentioned in a statement by Beijing after the talks, although no details were provided on when or how this would work.

“This has been a huge sticking point for the US business community, and frankly has led many to reconsider whether they can remain in China, given the long quarantine processes and the difficulties getting in and out of the country,” said Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) vice-president Wendy Cutler.

“This is not totally altruistic. China needs US foreign direct investment. It needs the exports stemming from US investments,” she said at an ASPI panel.