State director lauds
China visa extension

The great wall of bureaucracy faced by travelers between the United States and China has come down a bit.

Both countries have agreed to extend their tourist and business visas to a year from six months.

The extension, which began Jan. 15, will benefit business and tourist travelers between Hawaii and China, said Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hawaii lost valuable leisure and business travelers. The visa program changes are likely to entice a greater number of Chinese tourists, students and businesses to visit the islands, Liu said.

"A one-year visa eases the planning and ability of people to travel to the U.S. and to Hawaii," he said.

It should help frequent Chinese travelers streamline the process, he said. Frequent Chinese travelers will need to visit the U.S. Embassy or consulates in China less often to renew visas, Liu said.

Also, Americans traveling to China will save time and money, said Liu. He plans to take a business trip to China next week to discuss setting up high-tech incubators designed to promote business between the two countries.