Details on China-Singapore visa exemption in the works, expected to be implemented in early 2024

The plan for visa-free travel comes as part of 24 mutual deliverables which Singapore's DPM Wong said would open new opportunities, support businesses, and create more jobs.

The People's Republic of China and Singapore have signed a total of 24 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements as part of efforts to deepen bilateral collaboration between both countries. 

Among these, was a move to strengthen people-to-people links through a mutual 30-day visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, as announced at the 19^th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and Related Joint Steering Council Meetings in Tianjin last week.

According to a press release by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries are currently working out the operational details of the exemption, with the aim to implement it in early 2024.

The meetings were co-chaired by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang during DPM Wong's visit to China from 5 to 8 December 2023.

The remaining MOUs and agreements cover the following:

1. The 'China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) Further Upgrade Protocol'
2. MOU between Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and PRC Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on deepening cooperation in trade in services
3. MOU between Singapore's Ministry of Education and PRC Ministry of Education (MOE) on exchanges and cooperation in the field of education
4. Upgrade of MOU between Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and PRC Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on environmental cooperation
5. MOU between Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) and PRC Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MHURD) on strengthening cooperation on climate-friendly and liveable cities
6. MOU between National Research Foundation, Singapore and the PRC Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) on a Singapore-China science and technology people-to-people exchange programme
7. MOU between MSE and PRC Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) on agriculture and food security cooperation
8. MOU between MND and Tianjin Municipal Government (TMG) on strengthening Tianjin Eco-City’s green and low-carbon environment and economy to achieve high-quality development
9. MOU between Singapore's Ministry of Health and Chongqing Municipal People’s Government on Health Cooperation
10. Announcement of the establishment of the Singapore-China Digital Policy Dialogue
11. Upgrade of MOU between MSE and PRC Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) on water cooperation in the field of water resources
12. Cross-border pilot usage of e-CNY for tourism
13. Renewal of MOU between Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and PRC State Taxation Administration (STA)
14. MOU between Singapore's Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and PRC State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) on the incorporation and registration of business entities
15. Launch of the exchange traded funds (ETF) product link between Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE)
16. Resumption of staff exchange between Monetary Authority of Singapore and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)
17. MOU between SGX and Guangzhou Futures Exchanges Limited
18. MOU between MTI and PRC National Energy Administration (NEA) on energy cooperation
19. Renewal of MOU between National Heritage Board and PRC National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) on the exploration of mutual exchanges and cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage
20. MOU between Maritime Port Authority and Tianjin Municipal Transportation Commission on cooperation on a green and digital shipping corridor
21. MOU between Singapore's National Parks Board and Eco-City Administrative Committee (ECAC) on contemplative landscape and therapeutic gardens
22. MOU between Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority and Beijing Municipal Commerce on international information industry and digital trade harbor cooperation
23. MOU between Singapore's JTC Corporation and the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC) on deepening cooperation in digitalisation and sustainability

Commenting on the above in a Facebook post, DPM Wong said: "These deliverables open new opportunities, support our businesses, and create more jobs for our people.

"They also reflect how our countries have kept up the strong momentum in cooperation and exchanges at all levels since our bilateral relations were upgraded earlier this year."

Photo: Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong's Facebook