中評社香港6月9日電／中國駐湯加大使黃華光和湯加首相兼外交大臣波希瓦9日分別代表兩國政府在湯加首都努庫阿洛法正式簽署了《中華人民共和國政府和湯加王國政府關於互免持普通護照人員簽證的協定》。
據中國駐湯加大使館相關負責人介紹，該協定將在中湯雙方各自完成國內法律程序後生效。協定生效後，兩國公民持有效護照在對方國家入境、出境及過境可免辦簽證，免簽停留期限為30天。
新華社報道，黃華光說，免簽協定是中湯合作最新成果，將為兩國擴大在旅遊、貿易、投資等領域合作創造條件，期待雙方在這一基礎上實現更多互利合作。
波希瓦表示，這份協定是湯中關係發展的又一里程碑，將有利於擴大雙方友好合作，增進兩國人文交流，並帶動湯加旅遊和經濟發展。期待兩國民眾以此為契機，擴大交流，相互學習，建立更緊密聯繫。
該協定簽署前，中湯兩國已於2012年簽署《中華人民共和國政府和湯加王國政府關於互免持外交、公務／官員、公務普通護照人員簽證的協定》。
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Ciitizens from Tonga and China are to be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, from or transit through the territories of the other for short stays, under an agreement that was signed today.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva this afternoon signed with the Chinese Ambassador HE Mr Huang Huaguang, a Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement for ordinary passport holders.
This means that citizens from Tonga and China will be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, from or transit through the territories of the other for a period of stay not exceeding 30 days.
If citizens stay longer than the 30 days to study, work or reside, approval must be sought in advance.
The agreement is expected to come into force after domestic requriements are complied with, stated the Chinese Embassy in Nuku’alofa.
In 2012, both countries signed a similar agreement but was focused on visa exemption for diplomatic, official or service passports and passports for public affairs.