SI & China sign visa free agreement for ordinary passport holders

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Solomon Islands and China this morning signed a Mutual Visa Exemption for Citizens Holding Ordinary Passports –allowing visa free movement between citizens of the two countries.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele who witnessed the signing today said: “the agreement allows our ordinary citizens to travel freely, to learn each others’ cultures, promote greater understanding and respect amongst our people is critical to bilateral relations.”

He unscored that the visa free agreement will hopefully capture a slice of China’s 130m tourists to see Solomon Islands as a choice destination.”

Manele took the opportunity to thank China for the speed in which they responded to SI’s request for a reciprocal visa exemption.

Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Cai Weiming also thanked SIG for making today’s event possible.

He described the signing agreement as the latest manifestation of the robust relationship between the two countries.

Acting director of Immigration Chris Akosawa said the next step now is to gazette the agreement to allow for them to issue visa on arrival to China citizens. They will also need to add China to the countries now under concessional category to qualify for visa on arrival. The same process will also be done by China. According to Akosawa, it would not take long to do that in consultation with the AG’s Chambers and China.

According to the agreement,  citizens from both countries holding valid ordinary passports shall be exempted from visa requirement for entry or transit of either country, for a single day stay not exceeding 30 days, and for a cumulative period of stay not exceeding 90 days in any 180 day period.

news@sbmonline2024

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