Chinese Embassy begins visa service

The Embassy of China in the Maldives has officially started issuing visas to China, starting today.

The visa service was inaugurated by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Dhunya Maumoon and Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Mr Wang Fukang.

Speaking at the event, Dhunya Maumoon noted that the inauguration of the service will ease the process for Maldivians seeking to travel to China and that it marks an advancement in Sino-Maldives relations.

Chinese Ambassador Mr Wang Fukang said that the Embassy has been trying to launch the visa service since its establishment in 2011 and that he is happy to announce the service after much hard work on both sides.

He also noted that the new service will improve people-to-people interactions, along with the relationship between the two countries. The long-standing friendship between Maldives and China will be further advanced through this new service, Mr Wang Fukang said.

Foreign Ministry revealed that the visa service, provided free for Maldivian citizens, will be open to the public on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Embassy's new chancery building at H. Nookurikeela, Dhanbugas Magu, Male'.

Until today, Maldivians seeking to travel to China had to visit the Chinese Embassy in neighbouring Sri Lanka to get their visas processed.