国内英语新闻:China and Togo exempt visa for diplomatic, service passport holders

LOME, May 1 (Xinhua ) -- Togo and China on Thursday reached visa exemption agreement, to take force on May 7, for service and diplomatic passport holders, according to an official release.

Citizens of either Contracting Party holding valid diplomatic or service passports, shall not be required to obtain a visa to enter into, exit from, transit through or stay in the territory of the other Contracting Party for the duration of their accreditation requirements of the other Contracting Party within 30 days of their entry into the territory of the other Contracting Party, the agreement said.

China ambassador to Togo Liu Yuxi and the Togolese minister of foreign affairs and cooperation Robert Dussey inked the agreement at the ministry office.

"Our world has become increasingly smaller and it is, today, a village. To go from one household to another, there is no need to knock at the door," Liu Yuxi said.

He went on to state that he is sure that "the current arrangement will promote more the friendly and cooperation relations between two countries."

According to Togolese minister of foreign affairs, "China is an important partner for Togo and the unlocking of visa barricade can nothing but reinforce the cooperation between the two countries".

"The policy of the government is to provide facilities to people of Togo to go everywhere," Robert Dussey said, adding that last year Togo reached the same agreement extended to ordinary passport holders with Singapore and Malaysia.