China’s Foreign Ministry has approved the introduction of visa-free entry for Russian citizens, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a briefing, TASS reported.
The visa-free policy will take effect on September 15 in a trial format that will last for one year, until September 14, 2026. During this period, Russian citizens will be able to travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days. Permitted purposes of travel will include not only tourism, but also business trips, visits to relatives or friends, as well as “exchange visits.”
As TASS noted, citing Guo Jiakun, a “regular international passport” will be required for short-term entry into China. This likely means that not only biometric documents but also older-style international passports will be accepted.
At present, Russians need a visa to enter China. Exceptions apply to trips to Hong Kong, Macau, or Hainan Island as part of a tourist group.
As China Central Television reported today, Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a meeting with Vladimir Putin, after which Russia and China signed more than 20 cooperation documents in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and other industries.