18 countries grant Chinese citizens visa-free access   

(ECNS) -- So far, only 18 countries and regions around the world have granted Chinese citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, according to the Beijing Youth Daily.

The Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection has posted an article on its official microblog clarifying issues related to traveling to the 18 countries and regions.

It divides them into three types, four with non-stop flights from China, 12 without them, and two that have special requirements.

If a country adopts visa-free access bilaterally without reporting to China's Foreign Ministry, then Chinese citizens going there still need visas at the inspection station, it says.

Some countries have asked China's inspection stations to crack down on illegal departures due to the large number of illegal immigrants from China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier this month that China hopes to sign visa-free agreements with as many countries as possible, which will make Chinese nationals holding Chinese passports enjoy more convenient and faster overseas travel.