'ASEAN visa' a reminder that an open door leads to prosperity

In an era marked by rising protectionism, xenophobia and protracted conflicts, China's introduction of a five-year, multiple-entry "ASEAN visa" stands as a bold reaffirmation of openness — a policy that echoes the cosmopolitan spirit of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when China's economic and cultural prowess thrived on global exchanges.

The visa grants businesspeople from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia — as well as from Timor-Leste, which is seeking ASEAN membership, multiple entries into China over a period of five years, with each stay limited to a maximum of 180 days. Spouses and children of such businesspeople are also eligible for the "ASEAN visa".

This visionary move not only facilitates commerce but also nurtures cross-cultural dialogue, proving that economic integration and mutual understanding remain the most enduring foundations for peace.

The Tang Dynasty ushered in a golden age of Chinese civilization. Its capital Chang'an — located in present-day Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi province — flourished as a cosmopolitan hub where foreign merchants, scholars, pilgrims and diplomats mingled in open markets and imperial courts.

During the recent ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum, I witnessed echoes of this inclusivity while touring the ancient cities of Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Anyang — all located in Central China's Henan province — where openness still resonates through stone and scripture.

In Zhengzhou, the bronze artifacts from the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) bear testimony to early trade networks. In Anyang, the oracle bones, which feature the earliest-known inscriptions in the Chinese language, reveal a civilization eager to document, question and exchange ideas. In Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple are testaments to centuries of cultural interactions.

Like erstwhile Chang'an, all these cities thrived most when their gates were wide open.

The Silk Road network was more than just a trade route; it was a conduit through which ideas flowed. China engaged with Persia, India and Arabia. Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity and Zoroastrianism coexisted. Arab traders brought glassware to China, while Chinese silk and paper transformed distant societies.

Today, China's "ASEAN visa" has revived this tradition. It signals that China's rise is not exclusionary. Instead, its progress is like a rising tide that can lift all boats.

The benefits offered by this visa arrangement are profound. For ASEAN businesses, seamless access to China's 1.4 billion consumers means faster deals, deeper partnerships and greater investment opportunities. For ASEAN economies, the policy could boost exports, while attracting Chinese capital into infrastructure and manufacturing.

For China, it strengthens ties with Southeast Asia amid Western decoupling pressures, reinforcing the nation's role as the region's indispensable economic partner.

Furthermore, this visa policy could catalyze deeper supply chain integration, fostering mutual prosperity across the region.

Beyond economics, the move is a counterforce against global fragmentation. While some nations retreat behind walls, China is opening more doors. The result is increasing people-to-people exchanges, which in turn is eradicating ignorance and dismissing prejudices.

In Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Anyang, where ASEAN journalists and diplomats have walked the same streets once trodden by traders and scholars, the value of dialogue has become tangible.

Trade and travel have long tempered hostility. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), an era when foreign exchanges were celebrated, Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo journeyed across China, later serving as an official in Hangzhou.

Today, China-ASEAN visa liberalization may once again soften geopolitical fault lines through interdependence. As the United States and Europe debate deglobalization and tighten borders, China's message is clear: Globalization isn't ending; it is evolving. And increasingly, the leadership is shifting toward the Global South.

The "ASEAN visa" is more than a travel perk; it is a declaration of principle. Just as the Tang Dynasty flourished by embracing the world, modern China is choosing openness over insularity. At a time of global uncertainty, this policy is a rare spark of hope — a choice for bridges over barriers, for dialogue over distrust.

For ASEAN, the opportunity is historic. For the world, it is a reminder that the path to prosperity and peace begins with an open door.

The author is an economics and politics analyst, an award-winning columnist of the Philippine Star and Abante newspapers, a book author, and a moderator of the Pandesal Forum.