In a bid to reshape the rhythm of regional business travel, China has introduced a new ASEAN visa programme tailored for business executives from the 10 ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste.

The multiple-entry visa grants eligible applicants, including their spouses and children, access to China for up to 180 days per visit, with the visa remaining valid for five years. The initiative underscores Beijing’s broader ambition to deepen regional ties and streamline mobility.

Speaking at a press briefing, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted that the visa will “further facilitate cross-border travel in the region,” building on existing visa-free agreements with ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Simplifying mobility for business leaders and families

The visa’s intent reflects China’s awareness of the real-world demands of business. Unlike short-term visas or limited visa-free stays, the ASEAN visa caters to executives who need to move in and out of China frequently, whether for high-stakes negotiations, procurement missions or operational oversight.

For seasoned travellers like Ferri Limputra, CEO of Jakarta-based electrical components manufacturer Pura Mayungan, the new policy is a welcome development. “I am so happy with this new visa policy,” he told ChinaDaily, adding that it cuts red tape and makes frequent travel less of a logistical burden.

The move complements the Lancang-Mekong visa programme introduced in November 2024, which already provides a similar five-year, multiple-entry option for business travellers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, known as the Mekong River nations.

Visa liberalisation in overdrive

China’s efforts to liberalise entry requirements are not limited to Southeast Asia. As of 1 June, it began a trial period offering unilateral visa-free access to travellers from five Latin American nations: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Visa-free entry has also been extended to citizens from Gulf Cooperation Council states.

These steps appear to be paying off. In the first quarter of 2025, China welcomed over 9 million international visitors, a leap of more than 40% compared to the same period last year.

Lin framed this surge as part of China’s broader goal of “advancing high-level opening up” and contributing to “an open world economy”.

The ASEAN visa comes at a time when China–ASEAN economic ties are already robust. China remains ASEAN’s top trading partner and a key source of investment. Business travel, both outbound and inbound, is central to this relationship.

Riding the wave of booming trade and tourism

But China’s new ASEAN visa isn’t just a travel perk – it’s a power move timed to perfection.

Unveiled at a time when the ASEAN region cements its position as China’s top trading partner, the visa policy lands at a moment of growing economic synergy in the region.

Since 2020, trade between China and ASEAN nations has outpaced that with any other bloc, and the momentum shows no sign of slowing.

With five-year, multiple-entry access now on offer, business travellers can cut through red tape and keep deals in motion, whether they’re closing partnerships in Phnom Penh or managing factories in Manila.

This isn’t just about boardrooms and bottom lines, either. For millions of Chinese holidaymakers with their eyes on Southeast Asia’s beaches, temples and street food havens, the visa could be a game-changer. Easier access means more tourist dollars flowing into ASEAN cities and resorts, breathing fresh life into the region’s hospitality and travel sectors.

Cultural exchanges are likely to flourish too, turning airports into bridges and boosting people-to-people ties. In short, the visa is more than a stamp in a passport. It’s a fast pass to deeper regional integration.

Broader regional implications

John Paolo Rivera, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, noted that the policy has “notable economic and geopolitical implications”.

By easing mobility for executives and their families, China is laying the groundwork for deeper supply chain integration, smoother formation of joint ventures, and greater participation in regional trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Belt and Road Initiative.

“China is positioning itself as a regional hub and connector,” Rivera told ChinaDaily. “It’s a strategic counter to rising Western protectionism and a reaffirmation of its commitment to regional integration.”

Strengthening ties beyond trade

Aside from China’s grant of a business visa for ASEAN countries, the association itself has been considering its own type of visa to ease cross-border travel within the region.

The Philippines has thrown its support behind the proposed visa system for ASEAN member states.

Christina Garcia Frasco, the country’s tourism secretary, described the initiative as a “strongly advocated” step towards regional tourism integration. The idea, modelled after Europe’s Schengen system and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s joint visa, would allow travellers to explore multiple Southeast Asian countries with a single travel document.

Frasco framed the visa as not only a convenience for tourists, but a catalyst for deeper regional branding. “The ASEAN tagline is, ‘A Destination for Every Dream,’ and the ASEAN visa is certainly part of that dream,” she said, emphasising the bloc’s shared natural beauty, cultural richness, and signature hospitality.

The Philippines remains optimistic about the proposal’s momentum, with Frasco expressing hope that it will be revived and advanced when Manila hosts the ASEAN Summit in 2026.