(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

The Joint Visa Application Center for France, the Netherlands and Cyprus in Nanjing reopened on December 12.

At the reopening ceremony, Joan Valadou, French Consul General in Shanghai, said Jiangsu enjoys a close cooperation with France in the fields of economy, culture and education, and is also a key player within the China-France cooperation at the local level. The center will provide convenient visa services for the coastal province.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. It is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. Valadou anticipates an increase in Chinese visitors to France, particularly for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Marjo Crompvoets, Consul General of the Netherlands in Shanghai, highlighted the strong economic and trade exchanges between China and the Netherlands, underpinned by cooperation in renewable energy, science, innovation, health care and other fields. Noting that the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives most visa applications from China, she hopes the center can provide quality services and facilitate travel for people from Jiangsu.

The visa application center, located at F5, Zhonghai Building, No. 39 Qingliangmen Street, Gulou District, was launched in 2016 and closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The reopened center now offers enhanced services, including computers and self-service photo booth for the applicants.