Ethiopia and China on Monday, December 07, 2015, have adopted a new mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders entering each other’s borders, according to Xinhua.

The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia in a statement said: “As of December 7, visas are no more required for diplomatic or service passport holders of China and Ethiopia.”

According to the agreement, citizens of China and Ethiopia holding valid diplomatic or service passport shall be exempted from visa requirement while entering, exiting or transit via the territory of each other for a period of stay not exceeding 30 days.

La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said the agreement would help facilitate people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between Ethiopia and China.

It was on May last year when Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang came to Ethiopia for an official visit that the two countries reached on consensus.

Following the signing of the agreement, the legislative bodies of the respective countries launched the procedure to endorse it before it came into effect.

Source: Xinhua