28 Dec 2011

Five Chinese to get Vanuatu diplomatic passports

3:07 pm on 28 December 2011

Five Chinese nationals are to receive Vanuatu diplomatic passports.

The Chinese group earlier this year was given honorary Vanuatu citizenship after offering 31 million vatu, or 330 thousand US dollars, to the government for the renovation of the national parliament building in Port Vila.

Half that money has been donated but our correspondent says it is still to reach the government treasury.

The private secretary of the minister of foreign affairs, Matai Kalwatman, says after MPs last month amended the law, it is now legal for foreigners to hold Vanuatu diplomatic passports.

He says the passport printer has been adapted to allow the issuing of biometric diplomatic passports for foreign nationals.

The five Chinese will be special envoys of the Vanuatu parliament.