Further restrictions on business visa's are applied

According to emerging reports issued on 24 July 2008, China has begun further restricting business visas. Officials with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce stated that Beijing has stopped issuing invitation letters required to obtain business visas until late September, after the Paralympics. Specifically, applications related to general business matters such as attending conferences, visiting factories and business negotiations will not be allowed until 20 September. The new restriction was said to have begun in early July.