On the 24th, China's official media outlet Global Times, citing Indian media reports, stated that the Indian government has fully resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens. Indian media described this as another important signal of the continued easing of Sino-Indian relations.
According to the Global Times, New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported on the 22nd that, in order to promote the normalization of China-India relations, the Indian government has fully resumed the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens.
The Global Times also cited The New Indian Express, noting that the Indian government recently issued notifications to all Indian embassies and consulates abroad to “fully resume the processing of tourist visas for Chinese citizens.” This move aligns with a series of “people-centric measures” agreed upon by both sides to stabilize bilateral relations.
The report pointed out that, in July this year, India resumed processing tourist visas for Chinese citizens after five years, but at that time, the service was only open at the Indian Embassy in China and the consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. The New Indian Express said this time, the scope has been expanded globally, demonstrating India’s growing confidence in the current development of bilateral relations.
The Global Times noted that Chinese tourists consider India’s visa thresholds to be high, and that the opening of visa applications does not necessarily mean procedures have been simplified; whether approval rates will improve remains to be seen. A head of an Indian travel agency said that at present, the visa process for Chinese tourists remains complicated and time-consuming, causing Chinese tourists to turn to other destinations. India’s tourism industry faces practical difficulties in restarting the Chinese market, and must strengthen safety measures at tourist sites to ease Chinese tourists’ concerns over safety issues.
After being suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border conflicts, direct flights between China and India resumed in October this year. At the time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that this was the latest manifestation of the two sides’ serious implementation of the consensus reached during the August Tianjin meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Modi.