How many people travel between China and the United States each year? More than four million.
Most of these travelers can benefit from the new reciprocal visa deal agreed by the two countries in November 2014. Secretary of state John Kerry personally issued the first batch of 10-year visas to 11 Chinese nationals at the U.S. embassy in Beijing.
"This will pay huge dividends for American and Chinese citizens and it will strengthen both of our economies."
Meanwhile, at the Chinese embassy in Washington DC, Yale University researcher Edmund Downie became the first American to receive a 10-year Chinese visa.
"It really makes things simpler, and I think it's a really good start for good cooperation between the two countries."
According to the White House, by 2021, up to 7.3 million Chinese travelers will visit the U.S., making an annual contribution of 85 billion us dollars to the economy.
