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.

国家移民管理局周二表示，随着国家持续完善出入境便利政策，今年一季度来华外国人数量大幅增长。

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.

国家移民管理局新闻发言人林勇胜表示，自去年12月中国优化免签过境政策以来，今年1月至3月，全国各口岸共记录外国人入境超过920万人次，同比增长40.2%。其中，免签入境占比达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，中国对免签过境政策进行优化，将54个国家公民的过境免签时间延长至240小时，较之前的72小时和144小时均有大幅提升。

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

根据优化后的政策，符合条件的外国人可从60个口岸免签入境中国，并在24个省级行政区内停留或旅行。

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.

林勇胜表示，这项政策允许外国游客在华停留更长时间，探索更多地方。他补充说，近六成入境外国人选择在华停留期间游历不同地区，这反过来又促进了入境旅游的发展。

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.

据发言人介绍，自政策优化以来，前往安徽黄山、福建武夷山、湖南张家界等中国热门城市的外国游客同比增长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，国家移民管理局计划进一步提高出入境管理制度开放度，包括出台更高效的出入境和居留政策，实施简化旅客通关的新措施，促进中国公民与外国人之间更加顺畅便捷的交流。

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.

林勇胜介绍，今年第一季度，全国的出入境管理机构共计接待外国人1.63亿人次，同比增长15.3%。其中，外国人约1740万人次，同比增长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.

与此同时，中国移民管理部门持续严厉打击妨害边防管理等违法犯罪活动，一季度共侦办案件2851起，抓获犯罪嫌疑人8402名。

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

他还补充说，警方共破获毒品案件128起，缴获枪支201支、子弹5400余发。

facilitate

/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/

v.促进，使便利

transit

/ˈtrænzɪt/

n.过境，运输

institutional openness

制度型开放

customs clearance

海关通关