The number of foreigners coming to China has increased significantly in the first quarter of this year as a result of the continued improvement in the country's policies to facilitate cross-border travel, the National Immigration Administration said on Tuesday.

國家移民管理局週二表示，隨著國家持續完善出入境便利政策，今年一季度來華外國人數量大幅增長。

As China's visa-free transit policy was optimized in December, ports across the country recorded over 9.2 million entries made by foreign visitors between January and March, a 40.2 percent year-on-year increase, said Lin Yongsheng, spokesman for the administration, adding that 71.3 percent of these were visa-free entries.

國家移民管理局新聞發言人林勇勝表示，自去年12月中國優化免簽過境政策以來，今年1月至3月，全國各口岸共記錄外國人入境超過920萬人次，同比增長40.2%。其中，免簽入境占比達71.3%。

On Dec 17th, China optimized its visa-free transit policy by increasing the duration of visa-free transit to 240 hours for citizens of 54 countries, a significant increase from the previous 72 hours and 144 hours.

12月17日，中國對免簽過境政策進行優化，將54個國家公民的過境免簽時間延長至240小時，較之前的72小時和144小時均有大幅提升。

Under the optimized policy, eligible visitors can enter China through 60 ports visa-free, and stay in or travel across 24 provincial-level regions.

根據優化后的政策，符合條件的外國人可從60個口岸免簽入境中國，並在24個省級行政區內停留或旅行。

Lin said the policy allows foreign travelers to stay in China for a longer period of time and explore more places. Nearly 60 percent of foreigners entering China choose to cover different regions during their stay, which in turn is boosting inbound tourism, he added.

林勇勝表示，這項政策允許外國遊客在華停留更長時間，探索更多地方。他補充說，近六成入境外國人選擇在華停留期間遊歷不同地區，這反過來又促進了入境旅遊的發展。

Since the policy was optimized, the number of foreign visits to popular Chinese cities, such as Huangshan in Anhui province, Wuyishan in Fujian province and Zhangjiajie in Hunan province, has increased 21.6 percent year-on-year, according to the spokesman.

據發言人介紹，自政策優化以來，前往安徽黃山、福建武夷山、湖南張家界等中國熱門城市的外國遊客同比增長21.6%。

The administration plans to further enhance institutional openness in immigration management, which will involve the introduction of more efficient entry, exit and residency policies, the implementation of new measures to streamline customs clearance for travelers, and the facilitation of smoother and more convenient exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreigners, he said.

他表示，國家移民管理局計劃進一步提高出入境管理制度開放度，包括出臺更高效的出入境和居留政策，實施簡化旅客通關的新措施，促進中國公民與外國人之間更加順暢便捷的交流。

In the first quarter of the year, immigration management agencies across China recorded 163 million entries and exits, a 15.3 percent year-on-year increase, Lin said, noting that about 17.4 million of these trips were made by foreigners, up 33.4 percent year-on-year.

林勇勝介紹，今年第一季度，全國的出入境管理機構共計接待外國人1.63億人次，同比增長15.3%。其中，外國人約1740萬人次，同比增長33.4%。

At the same time, China's immigration authorities have continued to crack down on criminal activities that interfere with border management, conducting investigations in 2,851 such cases and detaining 8,402 suspects in the first quarter, he said.

與此同時，中國移民管理部門持續嚴厲打擊妨害邊防管理等違法犯罪活動，一季度共偵辦案件2851起，抓獲犯罪嫌疑人8402名。

The authorities have also cracked 128 illicit drug cases, and seized 201 guns and more than 5,400 bullets, he added.

他還補充說，警方共破獲毒品案件128起，繳獲槍支201支、子彈5400余發。

facilitate

/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/

v.促進，使便利

transit

/ˈtrænzɪt/

n.過境，運輸

institutional openness

制度型開放

customs clearance

海關通關