China is seeking a reciprocal visa agreement with Japan for diplomats and official passport holders as the East Asian country aims to revive the pre-pandemic unilateral practice of exempting visa conditions for Japanese short-term visitors, VisaGuide reported.

In the past, China demanded equal visa-free treatment from Japan for short-term visitors.

According to reports, China allowed visa-free entry for Japanese nationals for a period of up to 15 days between 2003 and 2020. But a visa is a must for Chinese visitors in Japan.

The request for reciprocal visa treatment is not easy, a Japanese government source said, adding that conservative party members might not agree with the demand.

Japan grants holders of diplomatic and official passports from 60 countries to reach the country visa-free. Tokyo also exempts visas for short-term travellers from a total of 70 countries and regions.