China will provide easier access to the country and authorization to stay to high-profile foreign visitors who are regarded as helpful in China's development drive.

Such foreigners can request an F-category visa to China under the new policy, which allow them to enter China an unlimited number of times within a period of two to five years. With each entry, they can stay in China for up to a year.

The Z category visa, under the new ruling, goes further than the F visa. It allows foreigners to enter China freely for the period of two to five years, and further allows them to stay in China for any length of time within the period.

F-category applicants can appeal to Chinese embassies abroad or related departments inside China. Z-category applicants must request their visa authorization after entering Chinese territory.

The new regulations co-drafted by nine ministry-level departments and released yesterday, elaborate the seven categories of foreign citizens who will enjoy preferential access and domicile privileges.

Foreign experts who have been invited to China by ministry-level departments to direct high-tech projects or very important engineering projects can take advantage of the new policies.

Other beneficiaries include foreigners employed by major domestic universities as research experts and have at least the academic title of associate professor.

Those who have been invited by Chinese enterprises to take vice-managerial or higher positions, or professionals in important technical fields are also included.

Investing more than US$1 million in China's western region, or US$3 million in other regions, qualifies foreigners for the special treatment as well.

Spouses and children less than 18 can enjoy the policy if their parents qualify in any of the above categories.

Along with this new practice, China is expected to provide green cards to foreigners in the future, to ease their entry and living in China, official sources said.

(China Daily July 11, 2002)