中国加拿大达成签证互惠协议
China, Canada introduce new visas
China and Canada started issuing reciprocal visas on Monday, with increased exchanges becoming essential to both countries.
中国和加拿大周一（3月9日）开始发行互惠签证.对于双方来说,两国日益密切的交往已经变得至关重要.
Multiple-entry visas for business, travel or family visits are being granted, with the longest validitybeing 10 years, both governments said on Sunday.
两国政府周日表示,中加将互为对方商务、旅游、探亲人员颁发长期多次签证,最长有效期为10年.
The development comes after China and the United States agreed on a multiple-entry visa policyin November.
这一进展紧随2014年11月中美达成多次入境签证协议之后.
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,中国外交部发言人洪磊表示,这项最新措施将进一步促进中加各领域交流与合作,推动中加战略伙伴关系向前发展,并惠及两国民众.
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.
中国驻加拿大使馆总领事高萍说,2014年,中方共为加拿大公民颁发23万份签证.其中赴华从事商务、旅游、探亲的高达80%,这也就意味着加方绝大多数赴华人士将直接从该项措施中获益.
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."
