China's decision to grant Canadians a 10-year multiple-entry visa will enhance people-to-people connection between the two countries and take the bilateral relationship to a new level.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the new arrangement at a press conference at the third session of China's 12th National People's Congress in Beijing on March 8.

The 10-year visa will be valid for up to 10 years, but not exceeding validity of applicant's passport. Each stay may not exceed 180 days.

Luo Zhaohui, China's ambassador to Canada, contributed an article on March 9, to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, titled New visa rules will take China-Canada relation to a new level. In it Luo said the arrangement "reflects the great importance attached to bilateral relations by our two sides…and will greatly inject new vitality into our friendly, co-operative relations."

He continued in the article: "This arrangement allows businesspeople from both countries to just pack their luggage and go across the Pacific Ocean with their long-term and multiple-entry visas, making business travel more convenient and less costly."

"It is great news," said Daniel Cheng, managing director of Canada China Business Council's (CCBC) office in China. "It will reduce costs and cut red-tape in visa application proceedings and pave the way for more Canadian people to visit China."

Cheng noted that two years ago Canada granted 10-year visas to Chinese citizens, which has promoted business, tourism and other people-to-people communication between two countries.

"China's new arrangement will give more Canadians a better chance to deepen their understanding of China," Cheng said.

Canada started to provide Chinese citizens 10-year visa in 2012. Canadians, especially the 1.5 million Chinese immigrants in Canada, have been longing for Chinese government to make it a two-way arrangement.

In November of 2014, China and the United States reached a mutual 10-year visa arrangement.

China issued 230,000 visas to Canadian citizens last year, and 80 percent were for business, tourism and family visits.

According to statistics, the two-way personal exchanges between China and Canada reached 1.14 million persons. Chinese citizens visiting Canada as the first stop reached 472,000, with 667,000 Canadian citizens visiting China.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of establishment of strategic partnership between China and Canada. And 2015-2016 has been designated by both countries as the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges.

Yuan Zhanling, who was the economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese embassy in Canada in 1980s, said the new visa policy will bring the bilateral economic and trade relationship to a new level.

"The new visa policy indicates Beijing's willingness to enhance bilateral relationship with Ottawa," he said.

Last year, China-Canada trade volume reached $55.2 billion (US). China is Canada's second largest trading partner, the second largest source of imports and the second largest export market, while Canada is the second largest destination of China's overseas investment.

"Many of my Chinese friends who are business people with permanent residency in Canada tend to keep their Chinese citizenship because they had to fly back to China frequently for their business there," said Lu Lu, a Chinese immigrant who runs a restaurant in Toronto. "Convenient and convenient, these are my two words for the new policy."

Besides business, the group that stands to benefit the most is Chinese immigrants in Canada, especially those who have become Canadian citizens.

China does not accept dual citizenship, which means any Chinese citizen who acquired another country's citizenship automatically gives up his or her Chinese nationality.

Li Wei, a 30-year-old mother who gave birth to her son four years ago in Montreal, Canada, said the new visa policy is good news for her son's generation.

"For my son, who is a Canadian citizen, it will be more convenient for him to return to China, visiting relatives and get to know his root culture,"

She added: "I hope the 180-day per stay could be prolonged in the future," she said.

wangru@chinadaily.com.cn