|
Listen to article
|
British and Canadian citizens can enter China without a visa starting Tuesday, bringing to 79 the number of countries granted visa-free access in a bid to boost tourism and business.
China has expanded eligibility for the program significantly in the last two years. Visitors can stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, exchange programs and to visit family and friends.
Most Europeans qualify for visa-free entry, along with some from select countries in other regions including Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Citizens of a few other countries, including the United States and Indonesia, can enter for 10 days if they are in transit — meaning they have a ticket departing for a different country than they arrived from.
Business executives and tourists have welcomed the change, as the China visa application process can be a relatively cumbersome one.
Read Also: Diplomatic Travel Eased As Nigeria, Angola Drop Visa Rules
The U.K. and Canada are being added following visits to China last month by their prime ministers, Keir Starmer and Mark Carney. Both are relatively new leaders who are trying to revamp ties with Beijing after a downturn in recent years.
For most countries, the visa-free access expires at the end of this year, but it has been extended in the past.
Nigeria and Angola have eliminated visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders, formalizing an arrangement both governments say will facilitate closer institutional ties and streamline official travel.
The Eastern Updates reported that the accord was finalized Saturday during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, where foreign ministers from the two nations signed the agreement on the margins of the gathering, according to a statement issued Sunday by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s foreign minister, led his country’s delegation to the signing. Angola was represented by Ambassador Tete Antonio, its minister of international relations.
Tuggar characterized the agreement as overdue and said it would enable government officials carrying diplomatic or service passports to move between the countries without visa formalities. “The initiative has been long overdue and represents a timely step in strengthening bilateral engagement,” he said.
The arrangement is designed to ease administrative procedures that have slowed official exchanges and hindered coordination on joint initiatives, according to the ministry statement. “The arrangement will facilitate smoother official exchanges, deepen institutional cooperation, and create broader opportunities for joint initiatives, dialogue and partnership,” Tuggar said.
During the ceremony, Nigeria’s foreign minister drew attention to historical connections between the two nations, referencing Nigeria’s support for Angola during its independence struggle in the 1970s. He recalled divisions among Angolan liberation movements at the time, including tensions between the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola and the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.
Read also: 1884–1885: The Conference That Manufactured African Crisis
Tuggar cited a speech delivered by General Murtala Muhammed, Nigeria’s military head of state in the mid-1970s, titled “Africa Has Come of Age,” which he described as an assertion of African autonomy and a demonstration of Nigeria’s backing for Angola’s independence efforts. “The historic address represented a firm declaration of African independence in decision-making and demonstrated Nigeria’s solidarity with the people of Angola,” Tuggar said.
Antonio, Angola’s foreign minister, acknowledged Nigeria’s role during the anti-colonial period and said his country valued the diplomatic support provided during its liberation campaign. He said Nigeria had shown principled leadership by supporting West African nations, maintaining ties with frontline states, and offering diplomatic backing that contributed to Angola’s eventual independence.
“This legacy of solidarity laid the foundation for the robust bilateral relationship we enjoy today,” Antonio said.
He described the visa exemption as a forward-looking measure that would build on existing diplomatic foundations and expand opportunities for official engagement. “The newly signed agreement is a practical and forward-looking milestone that will consolidate our long-standing ties and expand opportunities for official engagement,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the agreement reflects shared values and mutual trust, going beyond procedural convenience to reaffirm the broader relationship between the two countries.
Officials said the exemption is expected to reduce administrative obstacles to official travel, strengthen policy coordination, and improve collaboration between government institutions in both nations.
