Ukraine to ease visa access for Chinese businessmen, tourists
Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:
The Ukrainian government has drawn up a draft decree to ease visa control for businessmen and tourists from China, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko announced here Wednesday.
"We believe that this move will not only increase the number of tourists, but also significantly boost the budget revenues," Prystaiko was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying during the cabinet meeting.
The draft decree stipulates that Chinese citizens can obtain 15-day Ukrainian entry visas upon their arrival at the Boryspil International Airport in Kiev if they have a document confirming the business or tourist purpose of the visit, Prystaiko said.
He said the new visa issuing rules, which are awaiting the final cabinet approval, are set to take effect on June 20.
Easing visa requirements for Chinese citizens comes as a response to Beijing's move to adopt a 144-hour visa-free entry policy to Ukrainian nationals in some airports, Prystaiko said, voicing his hope that the new travel regime will strengthen the bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, more than 11,000 Chinese citizens visited Ukraine last year, compared with about 5,000 travelers in 2014. Endit