The Hindu : India, China to simplify visa procedures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003

International

International - India & World

India, China to simplify visa procedures

By Amit Baruah

BEIJING June 23. India and China today signed nine agreements in the presence of Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and Wen Jiabao including one simplifying visa procedures, especially for business travel.

As per the visa agreement, embassies and consulates in either country can issue under specified circumstances, six-month, multiple entry visas with multiple stays of less than 90 days each to promote trade and business. Both countries also decided to issue three-month, single entry and, if required, multiple entry visas for tourism purposes. For students, a three-month, single-entry visa could be issued.

The two countries also signed a "protocol" for "phytosanitary requirements" for export of mangoes from India to China. While the protocol for mangoes has been finalised, 16 other categories of Indian fruit and vegetables still await clearance from the Chinese. "After completion of pest risk analysis and detailed negotiations, agreement has now been reached on procedures relating to inspection, certification, packaging and labelling of all consignments of mangoes to be exported to China from India," the Indian side said in a statement.

"Now that we have a basic understanding of the relevant procedures, it is hoped that agreement on similar protocols for all the other identified fruits and vegetables can be concluded expeditiously," it said.

They agreed to an "executive programme" on educational cooperation and exchange though sharing of experiences between educational administrators. "They will also cooperate in such areas as the development of curricula for primary and secondary school education... and conduct discussions on mutual recognition of academic degrees."

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for "enhanced cooperation" in the field of small hydropower, wind power and other areas of renewable energy through joint research and development activities.

"The ultimate objective is to commercialise the results of such cooperation, create business opportunities and facilitate sustainable market development in an environmentally responsible manner."Yet another MoU for cooperation in the field of ocean science and technology for integrated coastal zone management, sea-bed resources exploration and exploitation technology, polar science and ocean energy, among other areas, was also agreed upon.

In the field of science and technology, the two countries will undertake collaborative activities in the field of natural sciences with emphasis on physical, mathematical, chemical and biological sciences.

An agreement to set up cultural centres in respective capitals, an executive programme of cultural exchanges for the period June 2003 to June 2005 was also signed in the presence of the Indian and Chinese leaders.

Finally, an MoU on cooperation on legal matters was also signed. "The MoU envisaged facilitating closer cooperation in the judicial field between India and China, through the exchange of information, experience in legal matters, including drafting of laws and implementation of legal provisions, exchange of experience and best practices... and cooperation in other legal and judicial matters of interest to both countries."

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