The Sao Tomé & Principe national assembly has approved, unanimously, an agreement for the mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and service passports’ holders, between the archipelago and China. This was announced last Thursday by the parliament’s president, José Diogo (picture).

This agreement is part of the sectoral cooperation programme initiated by the two countries, after their diplomatic relations were restored.

Just six months ago, Sao Tomé’s government said it wanted to issue entry visas to all Chinese citizens willing to visit the country, while exempting all diplomatic and service passports’ holders, from entry visas.

If for now, only this category is to benefit from the measure, Sao Tomé also wishes to grant common Chinese citizens, a 15-day entry visa, when visiting the archipelago.

Fiacre E. Kakpo