China, Canada introduce new visas

中國加拿大達成簽證互惠協議

China, Canada introduce new visas

China and Canada started issuing reciprocal visas on Monday, with increased exchanges becoming essential to both countries.

中國和加拿大周一（3月9日）開始發行互惠簽證.對于雙方來說,兩國日益密切的交往已經變得至關重要.

Multiple-entry visas for business, travel or family visits are being granted, with the longest validitybeing 10 years, both governments said on Sunday.

兩國政府周日表示,中加將互為對方商務、旅游、探親人員頒發長期多次簽證,最長有效期為10年.

The development comes after China and the United States agreed on a multiple-entry visa policyin November.

這一進展緊隨2014年11月中美達成多次入境簽證協議之后.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that the latest move will furtherpromote exchanges and cooperation, push forward strategic cooperation and benefit people inboth countries.

周一,中國外交部發言人洪磊表示,這項最新措施將進一步促進中加各領域交流與合作,推動中加戰略伙伴關系向前發展,并惠及兩國民眾.

Gao Ping, consul general at the Chinese embassy in Canada, said China issued 230,000 visasto Canadians last year, with 80 percent of them traveling to China for business, tourism or familyvisits, meaning that the majority of Canadian visitors will benefit from the policy change.

中國駐加拿大使館總領事高萍說,2014年,中方共為加拿大公民頒發23萬份簽證.其中赴華從事商務、旅游、探親的高達80%,這也就意味著加方絕大多數赴華人士將直接從該項措施中獲益.

The Canadian government website quoted Perrin Beatty, Canadian Chamber of Commercepresident and chief executive officer, as saying: "The future of countless Canadian businesses isin China. These new visa arrangements will make it easier for them to meet more frequently withtheir clients, distributors and suppliers, and to build the long-term relationships they need tocompete."