Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
News of China's trial visa-free regime for Russian citizens has attracted widespread attention. The measure will help make travel between the two countries even more convenient.
On September 2, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that in order to further simplify mutual travel between citizens of China and other countries, China has decided to expand the list of countries whose citizens have the right to visa-free entry. From September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026, a trial visa-free regime will be in effect for Russian citizens holding valid ordinary passports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly stated that China's announcement of a visa-free regime for Russian citizens is a friendly gesture of great importance, and Russia will respond in kind.
China-Russia tourism gets 'powerful boost'
In recent years, there has been an explosive growth in Russian tourists visiting China. According to the Chinese Embassy in Russia, in 2024, China's interior regions received 1.5035 million Russian tourists, up 115.1% from the previous year. According to forecasts from representatives of the Russian tourism industry, this figure could exceed 2 million in 2025.
As reported by the Sputnik news agency, previously many Russians wishing to travel to China were forced to fill out six-page forms, personally visit a visa center, pay visa fees, and endure a long wait. These complicated procedures to some extent curbed tourist interest. However, with the introduction of a trial visa-free regime, Russian citizens now only need to have a regular passport, buy tickets, pack a suitcase, and go on a trip to China "here and now."
Currently, Russian tourists have developed a variety of preferences regarding destinations in China. According to statistics, the top 10 popular cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu and Hangzhou.
It is noteworthy that in addition to megacities and famous resorts, small towns on the border of China and Russia are also likely to attract the attention of Russian travelers.
Hongchun in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Jilin Province is the only port city in the province focused on trade with Russia. After the resumption of visa-free group travel between China and Russia in 2023, the tourist flow through Hongchun has increased sharply. In the off-season, the number of Russian tourists even exceeded the number of Chinese tourists.
In the border city of Heihe, which is located on the Heilongjiang River opposite Russia's Blagoveshchensk, Russian tourists have long been a familiar part of street life. Many tourists, following local customs, have mastered mobile payments using QR codes. Most local vendors can freely communicate with tourists in Russian. Bilateral cultural and everyday rapprochement is becoming closer, and people are eagerly awaiting the launch of a trial visa-free regime.
The “dividends” of the visa-free policy were quickly reflected in the data on tourist bookings. According to Russia Today, after China announced the new policy, Russians’ interest in traveling to China increased sharply: sales of air tickets to China with departure dates after September 15 (the date the visa-free regime came into effect) doubled, and hotel searches and tourist requests increased by 5-9 times.
Visa-free travel promotes cultural exchange and brings people closer together
Since the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict, Western sanctions against Russia have gradually tightened, especially on tourist visas. This has narrowed the options for Russians to travel abroad, forcing them to look to countries friendly to Russia, creating new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange between China and Russia.
The visa-free regime is more than just an entry permit: its essence is to build a bridge of mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Russia.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this visa-free policy will increase the number of Russian citizens traveling to China and will also promote business, trade exchanges and interpersonal contacts.
Survey data from the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) also confirm the solid foundation of friendly relations between the two countries. 70% of Russians surveyed believe that Russia and China maintain good-neighborly and friendly relations, which is the highest figure in the history of observations. At the same time, half of the respondents said that their attitude toward China has changed positively in recent years.
Against the backdrop of growing trade protectionism in the world, China is choosing openness in response to challenges. The trial visa-free regime for Russia is a vivid example of this approach.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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