Citizens from these 11 EU nations will enjoy visa-free travel to China until the conclusion of 2025.

Here are the main points to note:

- China has prolonged its visa-free access for citizens of 11 European Union nations.
- Nationals from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland can now enter China without a visa until the conclusion of 2025.
- This visa-free entry allows stays of up to 15 days for various purposes, including business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit.

Here's a paraphrased version:

Citizens from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland will retain their privilege of entering China without a visa until the culmination of 2025. The announcement was made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, emphasizing the extension of unrestricted travel for passport holders of these EU countries as a means to encourage bilateral exchanges.

This decision is in line with China's endeavor to foster interactions between its citizens and those from other nations. Lin Jian highlighted that China aims to draw more visitors from the EU by continuing to offer visa-free entry. Under this policy, nationals from the mentioned 11 countries can travel to China for a duration of up to 15 days without the need for a visa, encompassing purposes such as tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, and transit.

However, it's important to note that this visa-free privilege applies exclusively to ordinary passport holders and for the specified purposes mentioned earlier. Any stay exceeding 15 days or for purposes not explicitly outlined in the statement will necessitate the standard visa application procedure.

China initially waived the visa requirement for passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain in December of the previous year to boost tourism and streamline travel. Subsequently, in March 2024, the visa requirement for nationals of Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg was also lifted.

Meanwhile, Portugal remains excluded from this visa-free arrangement with China. Despite Portugal's expressed desire to be included, as communicated by Minister of Economy Pedro Reis, Chinese authorities have not yet responded to this request. China has only stated its openness to engaging in discussions regarding bilateral relations with Portugal.