China agrees on trial visa-free regime with Russia - What it means
Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun (Getty Images)
China has decided to introduce a so-called trial visa-free regime for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports. It will begin on September 15 and last for one year, ttgchina reports.
During this visa-free period, Russian citizens will be able to stay in the country for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family, and other purposes.
“The pilot visa-free policy will undoubtedly provide a more convenient channel for communication between the people of the two countries. With the implementation of this policy, more Russian friends will come to China and experience the charm of China, which will also further promote the friendly relations between China and Russia to a new level,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry wrote.
According to the Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, China welcomes more frequent visits by “Russian friends” to the country.
China also expects that the introduction of the trial visa-free regime for Russians will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including economic and cultural sectors.
On September 2, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks in Beijing.
China and Russia signed more than 20 documents on cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, and other areas. The war in Ukraine was not discussed during the meeting - at least nothing was publicly announced.
As previously reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a multi-day visit to China, culminating in his presence at a large-scale military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
