TaipeiĀ - Taiwan has exempted five European countries from visa requirements to promote trade and tourism with them, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The five countries are Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania and Estonia. Their citizens will be allowed to stay up to 30 days in Taiwan without applying for a visa, the ministry's Bureau of Consular Affairs said on its website.
The visa-exemption measure became effective for Poland, Slovakia and Hungary on October 1, for Lithuania on November 22 and for Estonia on December 1.
So far, Taiwan has extended visa exemption to 36 countries in the hope that they would reciprocate for Taiwan visitors.
More than 50 countries have exempted Taiwan from visa requirements, allowing Taiwan visitors to stay in their countries from seven to 90 days. (dpa)

German exports plunged in November to record the biggest fall in nearly two decades, data released Thursday showed, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent.
US singer and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, 27, dominated the nominations for the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.