Heine on China’s Visa-Free Access for South American Countries
Jorge Heine, research professor at the Pardee School, former ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), and former cabinet minister in the Chilean government, recently commented on China’s one-year pilot program that grants visa-free access to five South American countries: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. This strategic step is expected to bolster trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two regions.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced last week that from June 1, 2025 onwards visitors from these five countries traveling for leisure, business or family visits will be allowed to enter and stay in China for a maximum of 30 days. This initiative is a part of China’s wider efforts to boost social and economic ties with South America.
“This is most welcome,” said Heine to China Daily, lauding the program. “It sends a powerful message, indicating that China is open for business.”
Trade partnerships between China and Latin America have flourished in the last decades, snowballing to an impressive $519 billion. With a relaxation on visa requirements, Heine reckons that China’s soft power will gain an additional boost in Latin America.
“China has always been a powerful magnet for Latin Americans, who are fascinated by Chinese culture, cuisine and architecture,” he added. “Visa-free travel means that these attractions will now be enjoyed by many more visitors from some key countries south of the Rio Grande.”
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Professor Jorge Heine is an international relations expert, a lawyer, and a diplomat. Besides China, he has served as an ambassador of Chile to India and South Africa. In recent years, he has extensively studied and developed his research on active non-alignment (ANA) that has been a guiding force for the Global South’s foreign policy. His last two books, The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition (2025) and Latin American Foreign Policies in the New World Order: The Active Non-Alignment Option (2022) delve deeper into ANA, providing insights on how the Global South leadership can prioritize their respective national interests while navigating the U.S.-China competition.