Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, December 16 (Xinhua) — With the introduction of a mutual visa-free regime between China and Russia, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are becoming increasingly closer and more convenient.
Against this backdrop, the city of Suifenhe (Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China) on the Chinese-Russian border recently launched a car rental service for Russian tourists, facilitating the implementation of a unified "visa-free car travel" scheme. This announcement was posted on the official website of the Suifenhe City Hall on Tuesday.
Natasha, a tourist from the Russian city of Vladivostok, welcomed the new regulation. She'd visited Suifenhe many times before, but this trip was a pleasant surprise. "Now foreigners can rent cars in Suifenhe, as long as they have a driver's license," she said.
The aforementioned service was reportedly launched by the Suifenhe Financial Investment Company in collaboration with local travel agencies and public security departments. The aim of this innovation is to leverage the new opportunities for tourism exchanges created by the mutual visa-free regime between China and Russia.
The Suifenhe City Hall announced that upon arrival at the Suifenhe border crossing, Russian visa-free travelers can obtain temporary driver's licenses in the border and customs control area. They must present their passports and Russian driver's licenses and watch a video about traffic regulations in China. Temporary permits are issued through a one-stop shop, significantly reducing waiting times for Russian tourists.
After receiving a temporary driver's license, Russians can contact the appropriate companies to complete the car rental paperwork, including signing the contract, paying the deposit, and picking up the vehicle. Once all formalities are completed, Russians can rent a car and travel within the Mudanjiang District, which is under the jurisdiction of Suifenhe City.
The Suifenhe-based Jiatu International Travel Agency noted that the visa-free regime has facilitated tourist exchanges between China and Russia. It will soon launch a travel product offering Russians the opportunity to travel independently by car within the Mudanjiang administrative district. Jiatu staff noted that such trips will allow Russian tourists to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, savor local delicacies, and enjoy a variety of entertainment.
To ensure the safety and convenience of overseas guests, all rental vehicles in Suifenhe are equipped with a Chinese-Russian bilingual navigation system, dual insurance, and real-time GPS positioning system.
As an important cross-border channel between China and Russia, Suifenhe Port has launched the above-mentioned service, which will stimulate the further development of cross-border tourism exchanges between China and Russia and promote the development of regional tourism services in the direction of individualization, which will become a new highlight of Sino-Russian cooperation in the field of border tourism, according to a statement from the Suifenhe City Hall. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.