BEIJING, March 8 -- China and Canada just reached an agreement on granting visas to each other's citizens, with the validity period of up to 10 years, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Sunday.

Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The new visa policy will take effect on Monday, he said.

Wang also told the press that last year China signed visa exemption or facilitation agreements with 24 countries, equal to the total number in the past four years. Chinese passport holders now can travel to more than 50 countries and territories without visas or by obtaining visas upon arrival.

It is more convenient now for people with Chinese passports to travel overseas whenever they wish, he said, hoping their trips easier and safer.