A national political advisor has proposed visa-free entry for degree-seeking foreign students to study in China as a way to attract global talent and strengthen the country's education sector.

Professor Charles W. W. Ng, vice president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks to China.org.cn in Beijing, March 5, 2025. [Photo by Zhang Rui/China.org.cn]

Professor Charles W. W. Ng, vice president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), shared his vision while attending the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as a member. The session is being held from March 4 to 10.

Ng believes attracting foreign students to study in China has strategic importance. It spreads Chinese culture, philosophy and values through education while developing international talent who understand China, enhancing its cultural soft power and global influence. Additionally, it helps build a global talent pool that supports China's innovation-driven development.

"As a key pillar of the national talent strategy, opening up education is essential for building a strong education and technology sector and a strategic move in global talent competition," the national political advisor stressed.

The 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education, jointly issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council on Jan. 19, aims to enhance the nation's capacity to train and attract global talent. The plan calls for expanded youth exchanges between China and other countries and the implementation of international summer school programs while supporting Chinese universities in initiating and joining international scientific programs.

"The deepening of international educational exchanges relies on convenient entry and exit policies," Ng said. "To realize the 2024-2035 master plan, we need to open our arms to welcome outstanding talent."

Currently, foreigners studying in China receive either X1 or X2 visas, depending on whether their programs exceed 180 days. While applicants must submit standard documentation for both, Ng identified several issues with the system. The 180-day threshold fails to accommodate short-term exchanges, and the X1 visa application process isn't more streamlined than the X2 procedure.

The inconvenient procedures discourage participation in short-term programs such as summer schools and camps that introduce international students to Chinese culture. Without an emergency visa channel, urgent academic exchanges face delays. Additionally, innovative programs like modular credit courses and cross-border training don't fit existing visa categories, potentially causing China to miss opportunities to attract international students.

In recent years, the National Immigration Administration has implemented reforms to streamline entry for foreigners, particularly through visa-free policies that have improved customs efficiency.

This inspired Ng to suggest a "one-year entry study permit" for degree-seeking students from the 25 countries with full visa exemption. This system would allow them to enter China visa-free with a university admission notice and later convert to a long-term study visa before the permit expires.

Additionally, the approval service mechanism should be optimized by simplifying routine application materials, establishing a collaborative pre-approval channel between universities and embassies, and piloting a commitment-based approval model, Ng said.

For non-degree study visas, Ng proposed that students from the 25 visa-exempt countries attending short-term programs under 180 days receive visas upon arrival. For programs exceeding 180 days, these students could enter China visa-free with program documentation and later convert to long-term visas. He also suggested expedited approvals for institutions on an approved whitelist.

"I hope this can build a more flexible and convenient study visa service system," he said. "After piloting the program in the 25 fully visa-exempt countries and summarizing the experience, the initiative can be gradually expanded to attract more international students to China. This will provide strong support for advancing the opening up of education and contributing to building China into a leading country in education."

Additionally, Ng proposed leveraging Hong Kong's role as a national window for international exchange. He suggested creating an influential academic conference system similar to the Gordon Research Conferences and establishing special research funds for international scholars in Hong Kong and Macao to support talent development.