China Plans One-Year Visa-Free Trial for Russian Tourists

China has announced a one-year trial visa-free policy allowing Russian citizens holding ordinary passports to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days starting September 15, 2025. The visa-free entry covers purposes such as business, tourism, visiting family and friends, exchanges, and transit. This move aims to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and further enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia. The announcement coincides with a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss their partnership amid global geopolitical tensions. Russian tourism to China is expected to increase by as much as 40%, given that China has already expanded visa-free access to 75 countries since reopening its borders in 2023. Chinese officials maintain that their stance on issues like the Ukraine crisis remains objective and fair, emphasizing the scale and productivity of recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summits.