US, China will relax visa restrictions on each others’ journalists

Both countries have agreed to lengthen the validity of reporters’ visas from the current three months to a year

The announcement came less than 24 hours after presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met in a virtual summit, though the leaders did not discuss the topic

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A deal has been reached to relax visa restrictions for US and Chinese foreign correspondents. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:25am, 17 Nov 2021Updated: 12:08am, 18 Nov 2021

The United States and China have reached an agreement to relax visa restrictions on their respective foreign correspondents, the US State Department said on Tuesday, confirming reports by Chinese state media.

The agreement will see both sides agree to extend journalist visas from the current three months to a year. News of the pact came after US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for three and a half hours on Monday evening about ways to “responsibly manage” competition between the two powers.

The agreement was first reported by Chinese state-run outlets, including the China Daily newspaper late on Tuesday. The deal was later confirmed by both the US State Department and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

“This hard-won achievement is in the interest of the media on both sides. It is hoped that the United States will honour its commitments and implement relevant measures and policies as soon as possible,” he said during a press conference.

“It is hoped that the US can work with China to continue to create favourable conditions for the media of the two countries to work and live in each other’s countries”.

The visa deal was the result of sustained talks at the working level over recent months, a State Department official said, adding that the agreement was welcome progress but the administration viewed it “simply as initial steps”.

The agreement addresses one of many points of friction in the relationship after a series of tit-for-tat measures targeting journalists and media outlets in recent years.