China and France signed an agreement to recognizing the validity of driving licenses issued by each other, in Beijing Tuesday.

中国与法国21日在北京签署驾驶证互认协议。

Under the agreement, China and France will allow holders of valid driving licenses issued by either authority to drive directly or obtain driving permits without an additional test, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said.

公安部表示，签署协议之后，中法两国将承认对方核发的有效驾驶证，一方准许持有对方国家驾驶证的人员在其境内直接驾车或者免试换领驾驶证。

“驾驶证互认”在英语中可用driving license reciprocity表示，reciprocity指“互惠、互换”，即“相互承认对方核发的有效证件，你给我什么待遇，我就给你什么待遇”。

1995年世界贸易组织成立以后，各类贸易组织内部成员之间都签署了不同类别的双方或多方互认协议(mutual recognition agreement，MRA)，约定商品质量管控标准等领域的互认。

中法驾驶证互认换领协议规定，对于临时进入对方境内不超过一年的(for those who stay less than one year)，双方驾驶证实现互认。临时进入法国的，可以凭中国驾驶证和翻译件直接驾车，无需换证(Chinese drivers in France can drive with their Chinese driving license and its translated version without obtaining a local permit);临时进入中国的，可以持法国驾驶证和翻译件直接换领临时驾驶许可，免予体检和考试(French drivers in China can obtain a temporary driving permit without going through health check and test)。互认驾驶证准驾车型包括中型客车(medium buses)、大型货车(large scale freight trucks)、小型汽车(compact cars)和摩托车(motorcycles)。

对于在对方国家居留超过一年的(for those who stay more than one year)，双方驾驶证实现免试互换。一方公民或常驻人员持本国驾驶证和翻译件，以及护照、签证或者居留证件，可以直接免试换领对方国家驾驶证(they can obtain a local driving license without a test provided that they have a driving license from home country and its translated version, together with their passport, visa or residence permit)。免试换领的驾驶证准驾车型包括小型汽车(compact cars)和摩托车(motorcycles)。

实现中法驾驶证互认换领，有利于方便两国公民驾车出行，有利于促进两国警务合作，对推进两国经济合作、文化交流、人员往来具有重要意义(it is of great significance in promoting economic cooperation, cultural and personnel exchanges)。

此前，中国已经实现与比利时、阿联酋两国的驾驶证互认换领。