The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre has opened in Ha Noi and promises to improve convenience for Vietnamese seeking to travel to or work or study in China.

It is a commercial service organisation used by Chinese embassies and consulates to handle the processing of ordinary visa applications.

From September 6 it will start providing information on application procedures for consular certificates. They include issuing visas for China (mainland), Hong Kong and Macao, collecting biometric information and so on.

“In recent years the relationship between Viet Nam and China has grown strongly,” Wu Mingyuan, general director of the China National Travel Group Entry Permit Service Company Limited, said.

“The opening of the centre is to meet people’s demands as well as to bring better visa services to Vietnamese people.

“Our centres around the world are highly appreciated for their high-standard facilities, comfortable environment, friendly staff, and professional service. And all of these qualities will be applied to CVS Việt Nam, which is the 85^th of its kind around the world.”

The centre promises to provide a welcoming environment to applicants who can get easy access through its network technology. A website will offer up-to-date online information, online consultation, online form completion, and online visa application status query services among other information.

Speaking at the inauguration of the centre on September 5 Chinese ambassador to Viet Nam, Xiong Bo, said: “The demand for traveling, working and studying in China is on the rise among Vietnamese people. However with limited staff and available space, many have become overwhelmed with the increasing quantity of visa applications. The centre’s establishment is necessary and urgent.

“The large centre is equipped with standard devices along with great capacity to handle a huge quantity of work. Vietnamese will enjoy better conditions and professional services here. It will also contribute to tightening the relationship between the two countries.”

Applicants can contact the following address for more information: CVS, 7th floor, Truong Thinh Tower, Trang An Complex, No 1 Phung Chi Kien Street, Cau Giay District, Ha Noi. Tel: 024 3275 3888; Fax: 024 3202 6359 Email: hanoicenter@visaforchina.org Website: www.visaforchina.org Business hours: Monday-Friday (except public holidays) Application submission and payment: 9am to 3pm. Passport collection: 9am to 4pm.