TOKYO, Aug. 12 Kyodo Japan plans ...

TOKYO, Aug. 12 Kyodo

Japan plans to participate in a order that allows businesspeople to travel in the Asia-Pacific region without obtaining visas, restraint sources said Monday.

command ministries concerned, such as the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), will work revealed necessary ordinances to pave the way for Japan's note into the system in fiscal 2003 the sources said.

The classification is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and has already been adopted by dint of eight economies including southern Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia. Five more economies, including China and Indonesia, have announced plans to join it.

subordinate to the APEC Business Travel Card method businesspeople can visit member economies without obtaining visas from them as lengthy as they carry designated cards and passports issued by means of their own governments. They can make trips whenever necessary for up to three month by means of visit during the three-year validity of the card.

The connected view benefits frequent travelers as they can save 4000 to 5000 yen payable for the issuance of each visa, although applicants are required to pay about 10000 yen for each card.

While each member management is now allowed to issue no more than about 2000 cards in order to obstruct their abuse, a METI official said the number will be increased on stages.

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