It's becoming difficult to get Chinese visas: Pakistan

Business community in Pakistan has expressed its concerns over Chinese visa saying that visas are becoming increasingly difficult to get.
Whereas, a rise in Chinese nationals coming to Pakistan in the wake of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being noticed, The Dawn reported.

Reportedly, 71,000 Chinese nationals visited Pakistan in 2016, and 27,596 visa extensions were granted in that year, which is up by 41 per cent from a year earlier.

However, it is becoming difficult for Pakistani nationals to get Chinese visas.

Moreover, they are granted only single entry visa, that too with the validity period of three months.

"The Chinese government should review its policy and grant multiple-entry visas to members of the business community with a validity period of at least one year," Pakistan Soap Manufact­urers Association (PSMA) Chairman Abdullah Zaki said.

"Secondly, cumbersome and complex procedures for obtaining a Chinese visa have to be simplified. This will certainly take the existing bilateral trade volume to record-breaking new heights," he added.
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Pak, China are all weather friends, further boosted by CPEC: Shahid Abbasi

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Pakistan and China are all weather friends and strategic partners.

"Pakistan-China bilateral ties are time tested and our relationship has attained new heights after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is a game changer for the region and beyond," Radio Pak quoted Abbasi, saying.

In a bid to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of education and infrastructure development, both countries have signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

The signing ceremony was held at the Abbasi's house in Islamabad during the visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang.

Radio Pakistan has reported that Pakistan and China have also signed the Letters of Exchange for Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Schools project.

China's vice premier Yang had arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to take part in its 70th Independence Day celebrations.
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