The High Commissioner of Samoa to New Zealand, H.E Leasi Papalii T Scanlan signed the visa-free agreement on behalf of the Government of the Independent State of Samoa whereas the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to New Zealand, H.E Mr Valery Yakovleviah Tereshchenko, signed on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation. The documentations were signed in Wellington, New Zealand on the 4th April 2017. The Agreement is aimed at strengthening the relations between the two parties by easing travel requirements for all passport holders (diplomatic/official/ordinary) from Samoa; and diplomatic and service passport holders from the Russian Federation. It provides visa free travel for Samoan nationals to enter into (stay in, exit from or transit) the Russian Federation for a stay of not exceeding sixty (60) days. This exemption does not apply to Samoan nationals travelling for the purpose of work, study or reside in the territory of the Russian Federation. The Agreement will enter into force 30 days after the date of the receipt of formal ratification from both parties. H.E Mr Leasi Papali’i T Scanlan on behalf of the Government of the Independent State of Samoa thanked the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, H.E Mr Valery Yakovleviah Tereshchenko for this opportunity that will allow for visa-free travel between the two countries. This would be a positive contribution to the development of tourism and other priority sectors of mutual interest to Samoa and the Russian Federation.