News Analysis |
Owing to the need of the hour, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad has hired two female Pakistani employees to facilitate the Urdu-speaking visa applicants. Speaking to local publications, Director, Consular Section, Yang Lianchun confirmed that the Pakistani staff has been hired with the intent of facilitating the Pakistani visa applicants.
Previously, several visa rejections were due to miscommunication between the visa officials and non-english speaking Pakistanis. “All of our consular officers speak English only. When we have interviews with Urdu-speaking applicants who visit China for the first time, we will sometimes reject them as we can’t make sure of their visit purposes due to language barriers.
However, Pakistani employees cannot only help lessen the applicants’ emotional anxiety but solve the problem easily,” the Director said. Hiring of local staff in the consular section is a policy furthered by the Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, himself, said Lianchun. “Since his arrival, the ambassador has especially taken steps to facilitate Chinese visa application.
The visa issuance volume from April 1 to June 15 rose by 11 percent over the same period of the previous year, among which the business visa volume reached around 15,000, a growth of 19 percent, a local publication reported.
His constant meetings with the chambers of commerce and industries won huge support from the local business community,” he said. The ambassador, Lianchun said, believed that China’s easing visa policy would Improve bilateral trade opening up new markets.
Lianchun also said that the ambassador has always promoted mutual understanding, exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples, which is the key point for developing the all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Pakistan.
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“The ambassador stresses that all consular officers of the Embassy must enhance their awareness of service to make visa applicants feel our warmth and friendliness and make it easier for Pakistani friends to get Chinese visas”, Director Lianchun said.
Hiring of local staff in the consular section is a policy furthered by the Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, himself, said Lianchun. “Since his arrival, the ambassador has especially taken steps to facilitate Chinese visa.
Since April 1st, the Chinese embassy has implemented a new policy for female and male visas. According to the new rules, applicants who have visited China more than three times since January 1, 2016, who work for the companies registered in local chambers, or who hold passports with marks of a government officer or government employee are exempted from submitting invitation letters. These invitation letters are usually issued by Chinese local governments or big enterprises and are difficult to obtain.
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The visa issuance volume from April 1 to June 15 rose by 11 percent over the same period of the previous year, among which the business visa volume reached around 15,000, a growth of 19 percent, a local publication reported. Lianchun reiterated that the Embassy processed visas for Pakistanis following protocols of International Conventions and the principle of reciprocity between the two states.
The Chinese embassy, he said, was fully ready for the coming seasonal visa peak. “We’re planning to arrange more Pakistani employees to receive visa applicants. Multiple visas with a longer period of validity are available to those businessmen who have good entry and exit records. We can also provide urgent visa service when required.” Lianchun said.