- The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has implemented various measures to ensure Kenyan friends can obtain their Chinese visas smoothly.
- First, the appointment requirement for visa applications to China has been cancelled.
Image: FILE
As China's economic development continues to surge and its level of openness improves, the demand for a convenient travel experience to China is growing among foreigners.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, along with other competent authorities, has been continuously optimizing visa and other entry and exit policies for our foreign friends.
A series of facilitation measures have been introduced, receiving very positive responses.
The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has implemented various measures to ensure Kenyan friends can obtain their Chinese visas smoothly.
First, the appointment requirement for visa applications to China has been cancelled.
Applicants can now submit their documents to the Nairobi Chinese Visa Application Service Center without making an appointment in advance.
There is no daily limit on the number of visa applications submitted, allowing applicants to apply at their convenience.
Additionally, the Embassy and the Chinese Visa Center have worked overtime to review visas, significantly increasing the speed of visa issuance.
For those with urgent schedules, applicants can apply for urgent services and receive their visas within one working day after the Embassy receives their application.
Second, we have optimized the visa application experience and simplified the procedures.
The Embassy has extended the exemption of fingerprint collection for eligible single or double-entry visa applicants in the categories of commercial trade activities (M), tourism (L), family visit (Q2), transit (G), and crew members (C) until December 31, 2024.
Moreover, the visa application form has been significantly optimized, reducing the content by 7 major items and 15 sub-items, achieving a 34 per cent simplification rate. Compared to before, applicants now have fewer procedures to go through and fewer forms to fill out.
Third, we have opened up application channels and improved the quality of visa services.
The Embassy and the Chinese Visa Center maintain timely communication and, through strengthened staff training, the staff at the center can better guide applicants, greatly reducing the rejection rate.
Additionally, the Embassy has reduced visa fees to 75 per cent of the previous level until December 31, 2024, making applying for a Chinese visa less expensive.
These visa facilitation measures have achieved positive results, making it easier for our Kenyan friends to obtain Chinese visas.
The number of visas issued by the Embassy has been growing rapidly, indicating that exchanges and cooperation in various fields between our two countries are booming.
I am delighted that Nairobi now not only has an expressway connecting the airport and the city but also a visa “expressway” connecting Kenya and China.
China's door to the outside world will open wider. It is committed to promoting economic globalization, expanding high-level openness to the outside world, and building an open world economy to better benefit people of all countries.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Kenya have treated each other as equals, supported each other, and united to revitalize each other, becoming good friends and partners in both political and economic cooperation.
China and Kenya are at the forefront of China-Africa cooperation in promoting the Belt and Road initiative, creating tangible benefits for the citizens of both countries.
The friendship between countries lies in the friendship between peoples.
As a result of consular cooperation between China and Kenya under the Belt and Road initiative, the visa facilitation measures help Kenyan friends have a smoother visa application experience and enter China quickly.
Recently, China also published the Guide to Payment Services in China, which introduces the ways and procedures for foreigners to obtain various payment services in China.
Now, in China, foreigners can easily use their mobile phones to scan QR codes for payment. I believe that the continuously optimized payment environment will give Kenyan friends a better travel experience.
We welcome new friends who are visiting China for the first time to get to know our country with its fantastic ancient culture and rich present.
We also welcome more and more old friends to come back to China and become bridges of friendship between China and Kenya.
Promoting personnel exchanges between China and Kenya will bring more opportunities for bilateral cooperation, strengthen the cornerstone of bilateral relations, and bring a brighter future for the development of the two countries.
We look forward to more and more Kenyan friends visiting China.
Welcome to China!
The writer is a Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya