China logs 424 million border entries, exits in 2023

(ECNS) -- Border inspection agencies across China handled 424 million entries and exits in 2023, an increase of 266.5 percent from the previous year, according to figures released by the National Immigration Administration at a press conference on Thursday.

In 2023, 206 million visits were made by Chinese mainland residents, some 183 million were made by residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and 35.478,000 by foreigners, up 218.7 percent, 292.8 percent and 693.1 percent, respectively.

Zhang Ning, a spokesperson for the administration, said immigration authorities across the country inspected 23.461,000 entry-exit transport vessels, up 143.4 percent year-on-year in 2023 -- 541,000 aircraft, 91,000 trains, 404,000 ships and 22.425 million road vehicles, up 108.5 percent, 16.8 percent, 28.7 percent and 149.5 percent, respectively, last year.

Zhang said the administration handled more than 58,000 criminal cases and arrested more than 109,000 suspects. A total of 2,463 criminal gangs and 1,517 dens of criminal activities were busted in 2023. It has found 65,000 foreigners who illegally entered, stayed, and worked on the Chinese mainland and repatriated 26,000 of them.

Authorities have resumed entry-exit services, including issuance of travel documents to Chinese nationals, and resumption of the visa-free transit policy for foreigners, Zhang added.

Last year, immigration authorities issued more than 18.428 million ordinary passports, up 1625.4 percentage. Issuance of mainland citizen travel documents to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan increased by 1,318 percent to 86.09 million. Visas issued to foreigners grew 158.3 percent year on year to 1.705 million, Zhang added.

More than 4.8 million mainland residents enjoyed the convenience of "nationwide access" endorsement for travel to Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. Some 19,000 high-level mainland professionals from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area were granted endorsements for travel to Hong Kong and Macao. More than 4.4 million Hong Kong and Macao residents went through customs clearance with extended travel documents, while 12 million applied for permits on the mainland, according to Zhang.