China, EU agree visa-free entry for diplomats

Chinese Ambassador to EU Yang Yanyi (left) signs an agreement with EU officials in Brussels on Monday to facilitate the visa-free move of diplomats on both sides. [Photo by Gao Shuang/China Daily]

Beijing and Brussels agreed to offer visa-free entry for Chinese and EU diplomats on Monday, with China saying it paved the way for a broader deal covering other categories.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are not included in the agreement. The deal was signed in Brussels.

According to the agreement, the holders of a valid diplomatic passport or EU laissez-passer, when travelling to the territory of the other part can be given permission to stay for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.

This is a follow-up agreement after the EU-China summit held last June.

Chinese Ambassador to EU Yang Yanyi said at the ceremony on Monday: “More frequent personnel exchanges could help consolidate the foundations of closer EU-China relationship.”

The negotiators of both sides are going to discuss how to lift visa barriers for business, travel and study purposes.

Statistics indicated that more than 3.5 million Chinese have travelled to EU last year while the total outbound travels in China in 2015 stands at 120 million.