Israel and China's 10-year Multiple Entry Visa to Be Signed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice Premier Liu Yandong
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice Premier Liu Yandong (photo: Emil Salman)
By Mei ManuelMarch 29th, 2016

After the United States and Canada, Israel would be the third country that would enter a 10-year multiple entry visa agreement with China.

The visa agreement will be signed Tuesday in Jerusalem under the framework of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong would be present in the event and engage in high-level talks with senior Israeli officials. 

According to Hagai Shagrir, director of the Foreign Ministry's Northeast Asia division, the deal is an achievement for Israeli diplomacy as it would allow their people to enter China multiple times, and at the same time, allow Chinese citizens to visit Israel. This would help both countries to boost tourism in their respective countries. At least 30,000 Chinese Citizens regularly visit israel each year and it is the hope of the Israeli government to increase that number to 100,000 in three years. Trends indicate that Chinese tourists spend more in Israel in comparison to other tourists flocking the country.

The visa agreement would also be in time for Hainan Airlines' first direct flights to Israel after announcing their intention to offer direct flights to the Holy Land. Hainan Airlines is the first Chinese airline and second Asian airline to have direct flights to Israel.

The visa agreement will be signed by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely and Chinese Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Fu Ying.

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