China and Thailand are set to launch a permanent reciprocal visa-free travel program, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Jan 2.

From March 1, travelers from both countries will no longer need to submit advance visa applications for visits to each other's countries, said Srettha.

This marks a significant advancement from Thailand's previous visa-free initiative for Chinese visitors. In September, the Thai government unveiled a five-month visa waiver for China, running from Sept 25 to Feb 29, 2024.

The latest visa-free arrangement follows China’s adoption of its unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, which began on Dec 1 and will last for one year.

Last month China and Singapore also announced a 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement for ordinary passport holders. The two countries will work out the implementation details and implement the new visa regime in early 2024, China Daily reported, citing Singapore's Foreign Ministry.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, China Daily