The Chinese embassies in Prague and elsewhere have stopped granting visas for multiple entries, Opletalova said. "The change will affect the visas issued for short-term visitors - businessmen and journalists in particular," Opletalova said. Changes in the issuance of visas were hinted at by the daily E15 today. The diplomatic office wants the applicants to deliver more documents than previously such as the document on the booking of accommodation and the return air ticket, World javelin champion Špotáková criticizes Beijing games ...
China Eastern's snub to Air China ... Opletalova said. Previously, information about the air flight was sufficient. The Czech Foreign Ministry said the Chinese had promised to publish the changes on their webpages in the days to come. The Chinese embassy told CTK the Chinese authorities had introduced the changes for security reasons and for fear of terrorism before the Olympics. Chinese diplomats have also given the reasons to the Czech Foreign Ministry. A representative of China Tours, the biggest Czech travelling agency focusing on China, said the Chinese embassy was issuing visas for a shorter time than usually before the Olympics. "Previously, it was for 30 days for one entry, but now only for 20 days on account of the Olympics," she added. This does not affect the length of the trips as they usually do not last longer than 20 days, she said. However, it can cause trouble to individual tourists who want to stay in China a longer time, she added. The applicant will receive the visas also according to the date of the return flight, Opletalova said. "The businessmen will be accorded the visas for one entry.
If they have an official invitation from a Chinese state body, they can ask for visas for two entries," she added. China applies a similar approach to other countries, Opletalova said. The Czech Republic has repeatedly criticised human rights abuses in China. Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said on Wednesday he was for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics to be politically boycotted and for Tibetan Dalai Lama to be received by top EU officials.
(Ceske Noviny)
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