Earlier this week, China hosted the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) forum in Beijing with the aim of strengthening its alliances with countries in the region, part of the political and economic dispute the Asian country maintains with the United States. During the forum, an important announcement was made: citizens of five Latin American countries will not need a visa to visit China for up to 30 days.
Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay will be able to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa; The travel restrictions will be implemented as a trial program and will be in effect for one year, until June 31, 2026.
The exclusion of Mexico, the second most populous country and second-largest economy in Latin America—Brazil ranks first in both categories—struck many oddly, but is consistent with current geopolitics, where Mexico is part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), while South America has strengthened its trade ties with China in recent years.
China is the main trading partner of Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, and Argentina’s second, after Brazil. Along with Argentina, it is a founding member of the BRICS alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), a group of nations that has shifted the geopolitical balance toward the so-called “Global South.”
China has been opening up to dozens of countries, including most European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, to boost its economy following strict travel measures due to the pandemic. With the elimination of visa requirements, citizens of these countries will have easier access to tourism, business, and cultural exchanges.
What does a Mexican need to travel to China?
Mexicans visiting China must apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Mexico City or at the Consulate in Tijuana.
The purpose of the visit determines the type of visa required:
M: Business Visa
L: Tourist Visa
X1: Study Visa (valid for one year)
X2: Study Visa (valid for 6 months)
Z: Work Visa
F: Visa for unpaid congresses, fairs, or cultural, academic, or scientific activities.
Mexican passport holders are entitled to apply for a visa-free transit permit for 72 or 144 hours, provided they have a confirmed ticket to travel to a country other than the one they originated from within the permitted duration of this stay.
Staying in China without a valid visa carries fines and even administrative detention by the police for up to 15 days.
Source: informador
