National immigration body strictly implemented prevention, control measures last year

Safe and orderly exchanges between China and foreign countries were ensured last year under the premise of ensuring regular epidemic prevention and control and strictly preventing imported COVID-19 cases from abroad, the National Immigration Administration said on Thursday.

Last year, immigration organs nationwide inspected 14 million entry-exit trains, ships, planes and vehicles, including 228,000 cargo aircraft, up 22.8 percent year-on-year, and 72,000 freight trains, up 3.6 percent year-on-year, the NIA said.

They also carried out 128 million entry-exit checks for passengers, down 2.8 percent year-on-year. Among them, around 74.23 million were residents from the mainland, up 6.6 percent year-on-year, 48.97 million visits were made by residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, up 4.4 percent year-on-year.

The administration continued to suspend port visas and regional visa-free policies implemented strict entry policies last year and provided necessary facilitation to foreigners who came to China for economic, trade, scientific and technological activities and urgent humanitarian needs in a prudent and orderly manner while ensuring epidemic prevention and safety.

Last year, the number of foreign arrivals and departures reached 4.53 million, down 65.9 percent year-on-year.

The authorities also carried out operations targeting illegal activities obstructing the border management and defusing risks and hidden dangers.

In 2021, they investigated about 19,600 cases about border management obstruction and arrested 98,500 suspects. A total of 79,000 foreigners working, entering or residing in China illegally were punished, with about 44,000 of them deported.

By focusing on solving problems for market entities and the people, the administration introduced 16 new measures to promote the development of shipping and implemented another 16 measures to facilitate the issuance of exit and entry documents.

Chen Jie, the spokesman of the administration, said the administration will keep implementing strict entry policies for foreigners and advocate not leaving China despite urgent needs in 2022.

At present, immigration authorities will issue exit and entry certificates in time to those who need to go abroad for study, employment or business and those who need to come to China for economic, trade, scientific and technological activities and urgent humanitarian reasons after verification, he said.