China simplifies entry-exit procedures

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Public Security has launched a number of measures to simplify entry-exit procedures.

Chinese citizens holding passports with digitalized finger print information, as well as foreigners with permanent residential permits in China can now use special channels for automated inspections when entering or leaving the country, said the ministry in a statement on Friday.

Taiwan residents with multiple-entry visas to the mainland will also be allowed to use the fast-track channel.

Special border check channels will likewise be provided for Chinese and foreign students who study in China but live in neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Laos, according to the statement.

The ministry has also made it easier to apply for passports or other pass certificates. The length of time taken for such procedures has been shortened, and people applying for more than one certificate at the same time will no longer have to out fill multiple forms, the statement said.

The ministry also promised other measures to benefit the public, including more efficient management of citizens' household residential registration, as well as legal aid offices at major cities' detention centers to provide legal counsel for inmates and their relatives.