Albanian citizens planning to travel to China and the United Arab Emirates will be able to do so without having to apply for a visa first.
The decision to grant visa-free travel to Albanian citizens planning to travel to China and the United Arab Emirates was confirmed by the Albanian Council of Ministers, VisaGuide.World reports.
In this regard, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhacka, said that the card will be expanded for Albanians who want to travel freely.
“Today we adopted two important agreements. We have agreements with the Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates. They will create increased facilities for Albanians who wish to travel to these countries. They will no longer need an entry visa. » Minister Xhacka underlined this in this regard.
According to Xhacka, visa-free exchange will only make a positive contribution to Albanian citizens.
She added that the ministry is continuously working to strengthen the Albanian passport as much as possible and expand the list of countries to which Albanian citizens can travel without a visa.
“I am encouraged and optimistic that we will expand the map so that Albanian citizens can move freely,” she noted.
In December last year, while announcing the decision that Albanian and Chinese citizens could travel to their respective territories without a visaXhacka stressed that Western Balkan countries continue to maintain close contacts with East Asian countries, mainly for economic purposes.
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs mentioned a report provided by the European Parliament in June on the Western Balkans and China, which noted among other things that the Chinese are attracted to the Western Balkan countries in these territories, mainly in due to the lack of conditionality for investments from China.
However, the report states that this negatively affects EU conditionality by reducing the effectiveness of proposed reforms as well as standards, notably in terms of social rights, environmental protection and sustainability.
“Other aspects of Beijing’s activities in the region could also hamper the prospects of Balkan countries joining the bloc.” notes the report.
Another agreement between Albanian and Chinese authorities was reached in August last year, during which both countries agreed to facilitate visa procedures and grant visas of more than five years to citizens of both countries holders of an ordinary passport valid for specific purposes, also taking into account tourism, family visits and business.
The recent agreement regarding visa waiver for Albanian citizens to China and the United Arab Emirates is seen as a further step towards strengthening cooperation between these territories.