Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 May, a grand opening of the official Chinese Visa Application Center took place in Tashkent. The center began its work.

“In fact, work on the launch of the visa center was almost completed back in 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was only officially opened today. I must say that this is very important, because with the development of bilateral Uzbek-Chinese cooperation, the number of citizens of Uzbekistan wishing to visit China is also growing. There was a sharp increase in the number of applications to the Chinese Embassy for a visa. This year, the number of visas issued has already exceeded 7,000,” said Zhang Wei, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, at the opening ceremony of the center.

It will handle Chinese visa applications, biometric data collection, visa fee collection, document issuance, consultations and other services. According to Zhang Wei, an adviser to the Chinese diplomatic mission, at present the center will be able to receive 80 people a day.

In the future, it is planned to increase its throughput.

“We are on the verge of very important events. And the opening of the visa center on the eve of Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to China speaks not only of the high level of strategic development of bilateral partnership, but also of the intensity of relations between our countries. Therefore, the figure that was announced today - 7,000 visas per year - is far from the limit, and this center has great potential. I believe that facilitating the receipt of Chinese visas will create not only good conditions for the development of the Uzbek economy, but also an opportunity to strengthen multifaceted bilateral cooperation, attract even more investment,” said Shukhrat Makhmudov, head of the consular and legal department of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.

To apply for a visa, you must fill out an application form and receive an online entry on the website of the visa application center. Applications without registration will not be accepted. In addition to the visa fee and the expedited processing fee on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, applicants will also need to pay a service fee collected by the visa center.

It should be noted that the Visa Application Center is not involved in the visa application process.

The decision to issue a visa, its validity period, duration of stay and frequency of entries to China, depending on the purpose of the trip, is made by the staff of the consular department of the Chinese Embassy.

To do this, the applicant may be required to provide additional supporting documents or an interview.

It should be noted that there are currently 97 Chinese Visa Application Centers around the world. At the end of April, such a center was opened in Astana. The Chinese Visa Application Center in Tashkent is operated by the international travel service Diaoyutai International Travel Service, which promises high-quality service on the principle of "customer first".