BEIJING — President Obama announced a new plan Monday to extend Chinese student visas to five years and business and tourist visas to 10 years, saying the move will boost jobs in the United States.
The visa plan was part of Obama's overall call for improved economic ties between the two nations, he said, and would help China "do well."
The visa change will also apply to U.S. citizens in China. Previously, visas were granted on a year-at-a-time basis.
Asia represents an incredible job-creation opportunity in the United States, Obama said, and that the new visa agreement could inject billions into the U.S. economy. A White House statement said by 2021, Chinese travelers to the United States will contribute nearly $85 billion a year to the economy and support up to 440,000 jobs.
Obama was in Beijing for the annual of meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC). Two rival trade agreements promoted by China and the United States are at the heart of the summit.
Obama arrived in Beijing earlier Monday for a week-long trip to the region that will also take in Burma and Australia — for summits with other world leaders.
The president's focus turns to foreign policy after last week's drubbing of Democrats in the midterm elections and just after North Korea's surprise release of two Americans on Saturday.
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