On March 13th, the official website of the Chinese Embassy in the United States issued a notice announcing adjustments to the Chinese visa and entry policies for foreign nationals travelling to China. For the moment, the announcement is only available in Chinese on the Chinese Embassy’s website.

The notice stated that,

1. Starting March 15, 2023, Beijing time, Chinese visas issued before March 28, 2020 and which are still valid can be used for travel to China.
2. China’s overseas visa agencies will resume reviewing and issuing various types of Chinese visas.
3. China’s overseas port visa agencies will resume reviewing and issuing various port visas that meet statutory reasons.
4. China will resume visa-free entry for Hainan, for Shanghai cruise ships, for foreign groups to enter Guangdong from Hong Kong and Macau, and for ASEAN tour groups to enter Guilin, Guangxi.

The first adjustment above means that those holding multi-entry, multi-year visas are able to travel to China without any additional procedures.

The Washington State China Relations Council will advise if there are any changes or additions to these newly announced rules.

On March 7, Monica Hardy Whaley, President of the National Center for APEC (NCAPEC), provided a highly informative and insightful discussion on the U.S. hosting of APEC this year including a large number of meetings in Seattle. Thirty years ago in 1993, Seattle hosted the first-ever APEC Leaders’ Summit on Blake Island. Washington State and Seattle has long been at the center of U.S. engagement with the Asia-Pacific region

Monica explained that from July 29 to August 21, Seattle will host the third Senior Officials’ meetings as well as several Ministerial-level sessions. The Seattle meetings will focus on women’s empowerment, health, energy, food security, disaster management and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). All the meetings will be coupled with a theme of “digital month” in Seattle as each one of them will have a digital angle. Stacy Jehlik, Director of International Affairs at the City of Seattle, was also invited to speak about how to get involved in APEC events in Seattle. She encouraged interested businesses, organizations, and individuals to contact her (click on her name above) for opportunities such as  becoming a volunteer or a sponsor.

Exact dates for the meetings have not been confirmed yet. But a calendar for the APEC meetings in the U.S. this year provides a rough timeline of all the meetings. People can also contact Monica Whaley to stay updated with the APEC agenda.

For more information about the U.S. hosting of APEC this year, please visit the NCAPEC’s website, including on the APEC CEO Summit, a FAQ page about 2023 APEC, and NCAPEC’s blog.

Click here to rewatch the webinar.

On November 16, 2022, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) held its 16th annual China Town Hall. The two-part event featured a national webcast keynote, followed by local virtual discussions hosted by NCUSCR partners across the country. The Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) and the China Studies Program and East Asia Center at the University of Washington’s (UW) Jackson School of International Studies served as the local partners/sponsors in Seattle.

The national webcast featured former Ambassador to China, Russia, and Singapore, Jon Huntsman, and was moderated by Stephen Orlins, President of the NCUSCR. Ambassador Huntsman touched on a host of issues, including the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, the shifting political and economic landscape in China and U.S.-China relations since the ascent of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the importance of trade, and U.S. policies on and towards China.

The local discussion panel included University of Washington professors Susan Whiting (political science) and David Bachman (Jackson School), and was moderated by Dr. Spencer Cohen, Principal at the consulting firm High Peak Strategy and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. The discussion covered a wide range topics and issues affecting U.S.-China relations, including takeaways from the recently concluded 20th Party Congress, the Biden-Xi in-person meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali, domestic challenges, and the direction of U.S.-China bilateral relationship. Some of the highlights of the conversation included:

• The dramatic reduction in people-to-people exchange due to China’s ongoing dynamic Zero-COVID policy. These exchanges—cultural, education, familial, and friendship ties—are critical to improving understanding and reducing tensions between our two countries.

• Dr. Whiting speculated on the intentions behind recent government-triggered economic crises, such as in real estate and Zero-COVID. For example, was the government-led effort to deleverage the real estate sector an effort to reset the sector and clear away many of the obstacles inhibiting reforms previously laid out but not implemented (during the Third Plenum of the 18th Party Congress), or to expand the role of the state?

• Dr. Bachman commented on the composition of the new Politburo and Standing Committee and experience among its members. A large number of the new members come from positions leading provinces and special administration regions, such as Li Qiang (Shanghai Party Chief and projected next premier), and not from within the Central government. These provincial—as opposed to extensive central government—backgrounds may shape how they conduct national policy.

• There is wide consensus that the meeting between President Biden and President Xi earlier this week was a good sign towards improving the bilateral relationship. That said, both speakers cautioned that we should not be too optimistic at this point.