欧盟简化中国游客申根签证流程

Embassies and consulates of EU countries in China are mostly in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

This means people hoping to get a visa for travelling to EU countries have to either travel a significant distance or pay travel agencies when applying for Schengen visas, which are good for any EU country.

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in signing the agreement, says the new visa centers will be very helpful for Chinese tourists, business people and students studying abroad.

At the same time, Britain and Belgium are now unifying their visa application services.
This means Chinese travellers can get both their British and Schengen visas in just one trip.

Qian Gang, Manager for the Greater China Region with the British Tourism Authority, says the new policy is very welcome for the UK.

"Chinese tourists are a valuable market for us. Chinese tourists rank first around the world in terms of overseas spending. On average, Chinese people spend 2500 pounds for a single visit to Britain."

Meanwhile, the German embassy has also expanded its visa office.

Business travellers to Germany are being promised visas within 48 hours.

"The German embassy has relaxed a lot its policies toward business visas. Rejection rates have decreased a lot. Before, you had to go to the embassy for interviews in order to get the visa. Now all you have to do is to submit the right documents."

Tourists trying to get to France, Spain and Italy are also being promised visas in just one or two days.

The French and Finnish embassies in Beijing are now sending their visas to successful applicants by express delivery.

Chen Fengying with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations says all of this comes as countries in Europe battle it out for Chinese money.

"European countries want to attract more Chinese tourists to stimulate their economies and create more jobs. Many European countries are facing high unemployment rates and large debts. Many need to urgently develop their economies. So as policies are relaxed, more Chinese consumers can enter their markets."

Chinese nationals made an estimated 120-million foreign visits last year.

That figure is expected to rise to 200-million by 2020.