On March 9, Ambassador Luo Zhaohui issued the first 10-year visas to Robert Reynolds and other Canadian citizens.

Ambassador Luo said, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has announced that the two governments had reached an agreement on issuing up to 10 years multi-entry visas to each other's citizens, and it took effect today. This is another remarkable achievement in further development of China-Canada bilateral relations.
First, this arrangement reflects the great importance attached to bilateral relations by our two sides, and it is also responsive to the aspirations of our two peoples, and will greatly inject new vitality into our friendly cooperative relations. I have noticed the strong appeal to facilitate our people-to-people exchanges from the Canadian people and Parliament, and I believe this new arrangement will fulfill their desire.
Second, this arrangement will further promote people-to-people exchanges. According to statistics, last year China issued 230,000 visas to Canadian citizens, 80% are for business, tourism and family visits. This indicates a vast majority of Canadian travelers will benefit from this new arrangement. Last year, two way personal exchanges between China and Canada reached 1.14 million person/times, Chinese citizens visiting Canada as the first stop reached 472,000 person/times and Canadian citizens visiting China reached 667,000 person/times.
Third, this arrangement will benefit those who visit their friends and relatives in each other's country. There are around 1.5 million overseas Chinese in Canada, which represents the largest immigrant group. Moreover, the total number of Chinese students in Canada exceeds 100,000. Both two groups are eagerly looking forward to receiving long-term and multiple-entry visas.
Fourth, this arrangement will further facilitate bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Last year, China-Canada trade volume reached 55.24 billion US dollars. China is Canada's second largest trading partner, the second largest source of import and the second largest export market, while Canada is the second largest destination of China's overseas investment. This arrangement allows businessmen from both countries just to pack their luggage and go across the Pacific Ocean with their long-term and multiple-entry visas, making business travel more convenient and less costly.
The year of 2015 marks the 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of establishment of strategic partnership between China and Canada. And 2015-2016 has been identified by both countries as the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges. I am confident that this arrangement will certainly promote the bilateral relations to a new level.

Mr. Reynolds and other receivers expressed the gratitude for getting the 10-year visas, and said that it was a great service done by the two governments, which made the travel between two countries more convenient and less costly.




