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Japan, China OK expanded tourist visas
Japan and China agreed Saturday on a plan to expand the granting of Japanese visas for Chinese visitors on group tours, currently limited to residents of Beijing and other designated areas, to the entire country, according to a news release. The agreement was reached in a meeting between Japanese Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa and Shao Qiwei, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration. The plan has been pending between the two countries after Japan expanded visas for Chinese visitors for the duration of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, which runs through Sept. 25. China wants the expanded visa arrangement on a permanent basis. The two governments have agreed in principle not to set a time limit on the expansion. "The fact that we can now have Chinese visitors from all over the country is a notable development," Kitagawa said. "The idea is to boost the number of Chinese visitors using the Aichi Expo as a chance for doing so, and we hope to see people tour Japan using their summer vacation," hew said. Kitagawa initially offered a plan in January to expand the visa for Chinese visitors for the duration of the expo, but China had said it wanted the expanded arrangement on a permanent basis. Addressing a reception to mark the Sino-Japanese tourism exchanges, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said tourism plays an important role in increasing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and in promoting healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. "The long-term friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese peoples is the root for Sino-Japanese relations," Wu noted. In order to push forward such relationship in a healthy and stable way, the two sides should, in line with the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future, increase mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, and fully implement President Hu Jintao's five-point proposals made in Jakarta on improving bilateral ties, Wu said. "This is in accordance with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is conducive to peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," she said. Wu hoped all circles from China and Japan to show concern about the Sino-Japanese friendship and take more actions beneficial to the friendship between the two peoples. "China is ready to make joint efforts with Japan to promote the healthy development of bilateral good-neighborly friendship," Wu said. Visiting Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kitagawa
Kazuo said China is the most important friend of Japan. In a bid to enhance
Japan-China mutual understanding and friendly exchanges, he would continue his
efforts to expand tourism exchanges with China and to promote Japan-China
friendship, he said.
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