Guangzhou debuts Alipay-powered ‘Hello Guangzhou’ super-app to streamline services for foreign visitors
Beijing authorises Hong Kong jurisdiction over revamped Huanggang Port to enable 24-hour ‘one-stop’ clearance
New ‘Utilise Foreign Investment Action Plan’ promises easier market entry and staff mobility for multinationals in China
Latest News
China steps up border drug-control, seizes 4.07 tonnes in first half of 2026
China’s immigration authority says it has already seized 4.07 tonnes of narcotics at ports and borders in 2026 – eclipsing last year’s total. Enhanced data analytics and closer regional cooperation mean more secondary inspections and potential delays for cross-border freight and business travellers.
China steps up border security, seizing 4 tonnes of narcotics at ports since January
China’s immigration authorities say they have confiscated 4.07 tonnes of drugs at border crossings so far this year and arrested 243 people. The anti-narcotics push is part of the “Secure Borders 2026” campaign, which is already lengthening inspections for certain cargoes and travellers. Companies moving staff or sensitive goods through China should expect stricter screening and factor extra clearance time into itineraries.
Macao rolls out facial-recognition immigration to Qingmao and HZMB ports
From 26 June, Macao’s facial-recognition Smart Immigration Clearance covers Qingmao Port and the Macao hall at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, giving residents and mainland travellers a document-free five-second border crossing. The upgrade accelerates people and cargo flow in the Greater Bay Area but requires companies to review privacy and travel-policy implications.
China’s immigration authority highlights 4 tonnes of drugs seized at borders in H1 2026, pledges tighter joint enforcement
China’s National Immigration Administration reported seizing 4.07 tonnes of narcotics and arresting 243 suspects at Chinese border crossings in the first half of 2026. The agency will maintain intensive inspections and expand AI screening, which could translate into longer or more detailed security checks for travellers and shipments on certain routes.
Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways opens two Chengdu routes, signalling rising demand for inbound travel to Western China
Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways has started twice-weekly Phu Quoc–Chengdu and Ho Chi Minh City–Chengdu flights effective 26 June, giving Tianfu airport its first direct service to Vietnam and adding new one-stop options for Southeast Asia–Western China business and leisure traffic.
China seizes 4.07 tonnes of narcotics in first-half 2026 border crackdown
China’s National Immigration Administration says it has cracked 186 drug cases at border crossings so far in 2026, arresting 243 people and seizing more than 4 tonnes of narcotics. The intelligence-driven campaign tightens controls at ports of entry and may lengthen inspections for certain cargo and travellers, underscoring the importance for multinationals of robust compliance and AEO programmes.
China Eastern orders 25 Airbus A330neo jets worth $9.35 billion to fuel long-haul expansion
China Eastern will buy 25 Airbus A330neo aircraft for a list price of US$9.35 billion, with deliveries from 2029. The fuel-efficient wide-bodies will underpin new and denser long-haul routes from Shanghai, promising more premium-seat supply and potentially lower surcharges for corporate travellers.
China Eastern to Double Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires ‘Tri-Continental’ Service
From December 2026 China Eastern will fly the Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires loop four times a week, doubling capacity on a route that connects three continents without U.S. overflight. The move supports rising passenger and cargo demand and offers Chinese and South American firms more schedule flexibility.
China Eastern to Double Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires Service, Boosting China–South America Connectivity
Effective December 2026, China Eastern will fly Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires four times a week instead of two, citing strong passenger and cargo demand. The expansion strengthens China’s air bridge to South America, adds belly-hold capacity for exporters and offers business travellers faster one-stop links between East Asia, Oceania and Argentina. The move also underlines Shanghai’s ambitions to be a global connecting hub as Chinese international aviation recovers.
Chicago Chinese Consulate to Suspend Visa Counter on 3 July
China’s Chicago consulate will close its visa and document counter on 3 July 2026 for the US Independence Day holiday, delaying passport pick-ups and visa issuances by at least one day. Companies should adjust travel timelines or use alternative consulates to avoid assignment start-date slippage.
Macau Extends ‘Smart Clearance’ Facial-Recognition Gates to Three Major Ports
Macau will switch on “Smart Clearance” facial-recognition e-channels at Qingmao Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge checkpoint on 25 June, after a successful pilot at Hengqin handled 6.21 million crossings. Travellers who register can now clear immigration in about five seconds without showing ID, freeing capacity for the region’s surging cross-border tourism and business travel. The upgrade underscores China’s rapid adoption of AI-driven, contactless border controls that corporate mobility teams should factor into travel planning.
Air China Deploys Domestic C919 Jet on Beijing–Yan’an Route, Paving Way for Wider Fleet Use
Air China has introduced the domestically manufactured COMAC C919 on a Beijing–Yan’an rotation, the carrier’s first scheduled use of the jet. The move signals broader adoption of the fuel-efficient aircraft and foreshadows its eventual appearance on regional international routes important to corporate travellers.
Aeroflot Adds Direct Regional Flights to Sanya, Expanding Russia–China Leisure Corridor
Starting in July, Aeroflot will fly once a week from St Petersburg, Kazan and Ufa to Sanya, adding to its Moscow service and capitalising on China’s visa-free entry for Russians. The expansion shortens journey times for regional travellers and is forecast to boost winter tourist arrivals in Hainan by 50,000.
Xiamen Air to Open First-Ever Xiamen–London Heathrow Non-Stop Service
Starting 6 September 2026, Xiamen Air will fly non-stop between Xiamen and London Heathrow three times weekly, giving Fujian Province its first direct link to the UK’s busiest airport and trimming hours off corporate itineraries. The route strengthens China–UK trade, tourism and student flows as long-haul capacity rebounds.