What’s new: The Chinese embassy in Seoul said it will resume issuing short-term visas to South Korean nationals from Saturday, ending most of the remaining retaliatory measures Beijing took against Covid-related curbs on travelers from China.
Visas will be issued to South Koreans seeking to enter China for visits, business, transit and general private affairs, the embassy said in a Wednesday statement.
The move comes after South Korea lifted visa restrictions for Chinese nationals on Feb. 11 and said it would consider gradually easing other Covid restrictions enforced on inbound travelers from China.
The background: On Jan. 2, South Korea announced a series of restrictive measures against China, including the suspension of short-term visas for Chinese citizens until the end of January, joining some 20 countries that took similar actions following the sudden reversal of Beijing’s “zero-Covid” policy. The suspension was extended, originally to the end of this month, until the latest change effective Feb. 11.
In retaliation, China announced on Jan. 10 that it would suspend issuing some visas for South Korean and Japanese citizens. On Jan. 29, Beijing lifted the visa restrictions on Japan despite no adjustment to its controls on China.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
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