Putin says Russia ready to make visa-free travel with China permanent

[Beijingwalker]

Putin says Russia ready to make visa-free travel with China permanent​

Russian, Chinese presidents meet on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan
Elena Teslova
31 August 2026•Update: 31 August 2026

MOSCOW
Russia is ready to work with China to make visa-free travel between the two countries permanent, President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

"We are ready to work together to make the visa-free regime permanent, if the Chinese side considers this possible and useful," Putin said during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek.

Russia introduced a reciprocal visa-free regime for Chinese citizens in December 2025, allowing them to stay in Russia for up to 30 days without a visa through Sept. 14, 2026. China had previously introduced a similar arrangement for Russian citizens.

The two countries subsequently agreed to extend visa-free travel for their citizens through the end of 2027.

Putin said the visa-free arrangement had helped boost travel between the two countries, with tourist trips rising 43% in the first half of 2026.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said earlier that Chinese tourism to Russia had increased by almost 50% in the first quarter of 2026 following the introduction of visa-free travel.

The push to make visa-free travel permanent comes as Moscow and Beijing seek to deepen people-to-people and economic ties, with tourism forming part of broader bilateral cooperation.

 

[Beijingwalker]

China hails mutual visa-free travel with Russia as sign of deep strategic trust
September 1, 2026

The mutual visa exemption between China and Russia fully reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

Guo made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on statements made by the Russian leader during talks with the Chinese leader in Bishkek, in which Russia expressed willingness to turn the mutual visa exemption into a permanent arrangement, provided China deems it feasible and is willing to do the same.

The mutual visa exemption helps facilitate the movement of people between the two countries, strengthens friendship between the two peoples, and promotes exchanges and cooperation across various fields, Guo added.

China hails mutual visa-free travel with Russia as sign of deep strategic trust

The mutual visa exemption between China and Russia fully reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

www.chinadailyasia.com

 

[retaxis]

Russia gives China visa free travel but not India? Looks like Russia is throwing its weight behind China and no longer trusts india anymore.

 

[ety]

Russia gives China visa free travel but not India? Looks like Russia is throwing its weight behind China and no longer trusts india anymore.

Are you kidding ? Would Russia want to give free visa to them that will only make a lot of them to find illegal ways to stay in the country.

 

[retaxis]

Are you kidding ? Would Russia want to give free visa to them that will only make a lot of them to find illegal ways to stay in the country.

But but supapowa india bestest friend russia doesn't even trust india then who will?

 

[Beijingwalker]

Russians May Be Allowed to Travel to China in Private Cars​

Moscow and Beijing are preparing a new agreement, as the number of trips between the countries has sharply increased​

6 September 2026, 16:26

Russians may get the opportunity to travel to China in their own cars. The Russian Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Chinese side on a bilateral agreement that will allow individuals to cross the border in private passenger cars. This was announced by the head of the department, Andrey Nikitin.

Image source: Grok

This refers to vehicles with a capacity of up to eight seats. It is planned to cross the border through five key checkpoints: "Zabaikalsk", "Starotsurukhaituisky", "Pogranichny", "Kraskino", and "Kani-Kurgan". According to Nikitin, these crossings are technically ready for such operations.

Currently, the main issue remains driving licenses. Russia and China are discussing how long Russian drivers will be able to drive cars in China, and Chinese drivers in Russia.

Interest in travel between the two countries is growing significantly. From January to May 2026, passenger traffic on flights between Russia and China increased by 48% compared to the same period last year, reaching 902,200 people. A year earlier, 608,600 passengers were transported between the countries during these five months.

The number of tourist trips is also growing. According to the FSB Border Guard Service, in Q1 2026, more than 690,000 Russians visited China – 54% more than in the same period a year earlier. More recent data is not yet publicly available.

At the same time, approximately 396,000 Chinese citizens entered Russia from China in the first three months of 2026. This is 23% more than in Q1 2025.

If the agreement is concluded, it will be possible to cross the border in private cars through the five designated checkpoints. However, the parties still need to agree on the validity period of driving licenses for motorists from both countries.

https://www1.ru/en/news/2026/09/06/rossiianam-xotiat-otkryt-poezdki-v-kitai-na-licnyx-avtomobiliax.html

 

[RealNapster]

Russians May Be Allowed to Travel to China in Private Cars​

Moscow and Beijing are preparing a new agreement, as the number of trips between the countries has sharply increased​

6 September 2026, 16:26

Russians may get the opportunity to travel to China in their own cars. The Russian Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Chinese side on a bilateral agreement that will allow individuals to cross the border in private passenger cars. This was announced by the head of the department, Andrey Nikitin.

Image source: Grok

This refers to vehicles with a capacity of up to eight seats. It is planned to cross the border through five key checkpoints: "Zabaikalsk", "Starotsurukhaituisky", "Pogranichny", "Kraskino", and "Kani-Kurgan". According to Nikitin, these crossings are technically ready for such operations.

Currently, the main issue remains driving licenses. Russia and China are discussing how long Russian drivers will be able to drive cars in China, and Chinese drivers in Russia.

Interest in travel between the two countries is growing significantly. From January to May 2026, passenger traffic on flights between Russia and China increased by 48% compared to the same period last year, reaching 902,200 people. A year earlier, 608,600 passengers were transported between the countries during these five months.

The number of tourist trips is also growing. According to the FSB Border Guard Service, in Q1 2026, more than 690,000 Russians visited China – 54% more than in the same period a year earlier. More recent data is not yet publicly available.

At the same time, approximately 396,000 Chinese citizens entered Russia from China in the first three months of 2026. This is 23% more than in Q1 2025.

If the agreement is concluded, it will be possible to cross the border in private cars through the five designated checkpoints. However, the parties still need to agree on the validity period of driving licenses for motorists from both countries.

https://www1.ru/en/news/2026/09/06/rossiianam-xotiat-otkryt-poezdki-v-kitai-na-licnyx-avtomobiliax.html

I tbink Ryssia and china are moving to an arrangement like US and Canada. I believe Canadian citizens with Canadian driving license can also travel to USA in their cars without needing US driving license.