New Step on the Road to Establish ASEAN Community: Visa Exemption Agreement Between Cambodia & Myanmar
was first a Hindu, then subsequently, a Buddhist
temple complex in Cambodia and the largest
religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century
Visa exemption agreement between Myanmar and Cambodia was signed
by Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Mr.
Tin Oo Lwin and Cambodian Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Sieng Burvuth in the
capital of Myanmar – Nay Pyi Taw, on 12 of December 2013. It has happened, during 27 SEA Games, held in Myanmar and this is a
good example, how sport can bring countries and its peoples for more closed
cooperation, not only in sport area, but in social and political areas as well!
Under this agreement, Cambodian citizens will be permitted to
visit Myanmar for up to 14 days without a visa, and vice versa.
Cambodia is the 3rd ASEAN member, to sign such a deal with
Myanmar. Earlier, Myanmar signed same agreement with Laos in 2009 and recently,
with Vietnam, on 26 of September 2013. Indonesia and Thailand, might be the
next countries, to sign visa exemption agreement with Myanmar, as they already
agreed it in principle, but not signed it formally yet.
According
to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda has existed for more than 2,600 years, making it
the oldest historical pagoda in Myanmar and the world.
How Visa Exemption
Agreement, between Cambodia & Myanmar, will help, to boost business,
cultural and social relationships, between the peoples, of two countries?
First of all, it will reduce
the price of the trip: before, when visa needed, Myanmar people had to pay, USD
20 for tourist visa or USD 25 for business visa, as official fees, plus very
often, $ 5-10 more, as non-official fees, what unfortunately, are still, widely,
demanded, by corrupted Cambodian officials, on the border. Visa for Cambodian
people also, were not for free: USD 25-30, depending on the type of the visa.
Now, citizens of both countries, can keep that money at their pockets, and this
is very good news. For business purpose, it means, that tour-operators, can
reduce price for tour-packages, for both countries, for Cambodian and Myanmar’s
citizens, as now no need to charge for visa.
Second, this agreement
means, that it will be no more quelling, for Myanmar visitors to Cambodia and
vice versa at the airports and in the consular sections of Embassies. Time is
money, and, now, no need to wait 5-14 days, for Cambodians, in Myanmar
Embassies (in Phnom Penh was usually 5 days or more, in other Embassies, like
in Washington, could be more long), to receive visa. Even, before Cambodians
could automatically, get visa on arrival, if they fly to Myanmar, by MAI –
Myanmar Airways International, but, if they fly by other airlines, like Thai
Airways, Bangkok Airways or Air Asia – they usually should apply for visa, in
Myanmar Embassies, if they perform private trip, or, if they use service, of
tour companies or come by official invitation, it was really, very big
headache, for tour companies or inviting organizations, to obtain official
permission, for their guests, to get visa on arrival at the airport, for them!
For Myanmar’s visitors, it was much more easier, than for Cambodians, as here,
in Cambodia, practically, there are no restrictions, to get 1 month visa on
arrival, tourist or business, for all visitors, except only, for citizens of
several countries, but now, of course – much better, to go straight to the
passport control, without spending time (and money), in immigration office, for
receiving visa!
And third, the most important point, from our point of
view: there is one more step done, on the road, for practical implementation,
of the ASEAN motto - "One Vision, One Identity, One Community". One
Community – it means, that in the nearest future, ASEAN will become, in many
terms, same like EU – where people can freely travel without restrictions and
without visas. There are three pillars in ASEAN Community arrangement - ASEAN
Security and Political Community (ASPC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and
ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC). These three pillars describe how
member states seriously think about important way to become greater regionalism
and integration. The ASEAN Vision 2020 was accelerated in The 12th ASEAN
Summit in Cebu (Philippines), by “Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the
Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015”. The summit insists all member
state governments to accelerate the form of ASEAN Community in 2020 by 2015.
So, right now, Myanmar has visa exemption agreements,
with only three ASEAN members - Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Cambodia has visa exemption agreements, with all ASEAN
countries, for both, holders of diplomatic and normal passports.
Travelers with normal Cambodian passports to Indonesia,
Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Laos can stay there without visa within 30
days, and vice versa.
Citizens of the Kingdom of Cambodia with normal passports do
not require a visa to visit the Philippines for 21 days and vice versa.
Cambodians with normal passports can stay without visa
in Thailand, Brunei and now – in Myanmar, within 14 days and vice versa.
Frankly speaking, we are not so sure, if all ASEAN
states, would be able, to reach such visa exemption agreements between each
other till 2015, but, surely, sooner or later, they will do it, maybe not till
2015, but till 2020.
Aquatics Cambodia
Afterwards:
Japan eases visa rules
for Cambodia
Visa regulations
between Cambodia and Japan have been loosened amid efforts to boost foreign
direct investment.
Ordinary Japanese and
Cambodian passport holders will be eligible for long-term and multiple-entry
visas to both countries, valid for up to three years, according to a Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation statement.
Diplomatic passport
holders will also be granted an automatic 30-day visa allowance in Cambodia and
Japan.
The application criteria
for the long-term and multiple-entry visas remains unclear and will be decided
on independently by both countries, said Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Aquatics
Cambodia - news, photos, films and other useful data about swimming and other
aquatics sport disciplines developing in Cambodia, as well as interesting news
about cultural and social life in the Kingdom of Wonder and South-East Asia:
http://aquaticscambodia.blogspot.com/2012/12/cambodia-national-swimming-team-in.html
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