Xi, Obama agree to new visa policy

China and the United States will grant each other's citizens a business or tourist visa with multiple entries and the maximum validity of ten years, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

The student visa will also be extended to five years of validity at most with multiple entries, said Qin Gang, the ministry spokesman, in a press release.

The two governments have reached the agreement and will finalize the arrangement soon, he said.

The visa extension policies will facilitate people-to-people exchanges and benefit cooperation in all areas between the two countries, he said.

According to the ministry, China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with nearly 90 countries and reached 53 visa simplification agreements with 39 countries.

A total of 37 countries and regions have agreed to grant Chinese citizens visas on arrival, while eight countries and regions unilaterally allow Chinese citizens to enter without a visa.