China opens embassy in Commonwealth of Dominica
Xinhuanet, China, June 17, 2004 - China opened its embassy in the
Commonwealth of Dominica on Wednesday, three months after the two countries
established diplomatic relations on March 23, according to reports from the
Dominican capital, Roseau.
Slovakia
to establish consulate in Shanghai
Xinhuanet, China, May 13, 2004 - Visiting Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Economy Pavol Rusko announced here Thursday that Slovakia has
decided to establish a consulate in Shanghai in order to further boost the
bilateral economic and trade cooperation with China...
Visa flap dampens Chinese tourism
Starbulletin.com,
USA, May 10, 2004 - A dispute over the processing of visas is stifling the
state's efforts to provide training to the Chinese and to develop tourism
between China and the United States, state officials said. China has objected to
increased U.S. anti-terrorism security measures such as the fingerprinting of
visa applicants. State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert said the China is
restricting official travel to the United States because of the increased
security and the difficulty of getting U.S. visas.
China Had 10,247 Stowaways in 2001-2003
Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2004 -
China's frontier checkpoints have detected 10,247 stowaways in the past three
years, according to a national conference on frontier inspection held in Hangzhou on Monday. From 2001 to 2003, the frontier armed force of the public
security inspected over 100 million cross-border passengers, among whom 10,247
were stowaways and 29,891 violated other laws and regulations, according to
figures revealed at the meeting which was held in Hangzhou, capital of east
China's Zhejiang Province. The present in-service armed force along China's
border is responsible for 198 checkpoints of land, sea and air border ports. In
2003 alone, 3,999 stowaways were seized and 774 human traffickers were captured
in the country. In a five-month campaign from October 2003 to March this year,
police captured 5,286 stowaways and 444 human traffickers, according to the
Public Security Ministry.
Expats
& Foreign Visitors Set for Visa-free Access to Shenzhen
CRI,
China, Mar. 26, 2004 -
Expatriates and foreign visitors in Hong Kong will
soon be given visa-free access to Shenzhen as part of new measures under the
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, between the mainland and HK.
Shenzhen is a border city in south China's Guangdong Province, and became
China's first special economic zone in the early 1980s. Shenzhen tourism
authorities say about 800,000 foreigners who visit the special economic zone via
Hong Kong would benefit from the new measures. It is understood that officials
from the two cities will sign agreements next month on issues related to CEPA at
a Guangdong-Hong Kong joint conference. The deal is expected to include
visa-free arrangement and measures on transport, immigration checkpoints, and
finance and securities services.
Travel Rules Altered
Shanghai Daily, Mar. 3, 2004 - Government officials in Shanghai and
state-run employees holding passports for public affairs are now permitted to
arrange overseas business trips with travel agencies. The change took effect on
Monday according to new Shanghai Tourism Regulations. Previously these business
delegations had to organize trips directly with airlines and hotels...
China Simplifies Passport Applications in 2003
Xinhua News, Jan. 3, 2004 - China simplified passport
application procedures in 101 major cities, about one third of the total, in
2003, says the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
Guangzhou Push for Free 2-day Transit Visas
CRI Dec. 1, 2003 - The city of
Guangzhou in south China is to seek the Central Government's approval to grant
free 48-hour transit visas to foreign travelers arriving at its new airport, due
to open next June.
MOFA
examines Bosnian Rejection of Taiwan Papers
Etaiwannews.com Taiwan, Oct. 3, 2003 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed
the hope yesterday that Bosnia would respect the new version of Republic of
China passports as effective travel documents for the people of Taiwan...
Passports
Put Chinese on Tour
CNN, USA Sep. 8,
2003 - Once restricted to travel within their own borders, Chinese
are now queuing up to apply for passports and the chance to visit
the rest of the world. The government's decision to relax travel
restrictions marks a dramatic change from the 1980's, when
passports were limited to the few who went on official trips and
those who were well connected....
Taiwan
Issues 'Provocative' Passports
BBC News,UK - Sep. 1, 2003 New Taiwanese passports are being
issued on Monday (Sep.1), with the word Taiwan printed on the front for the
first time. The decision has been denounced by China as an excuse for the
province to pursue independence...
Japanese
Granted Visa-free Visits
Starting September 1, 2003 Japanese
businessmen and tourists will not require visas for brief visits to China.As is
now the case for tourists from Singapore and Brunei, Japanese visitors will be
permitted to stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.
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