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

Monday 31 August 2026 - 13:25

By: Azzat Manal

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed Moscow's willingness to make visa-free travel between Russia and China a permanent arrangement, highlighting the growing depth of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Speaking during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and delegations from both countries ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Putin said cooperation between Russia and China was developing successfully across a wide range of sectors.

The Russian president also conveyed his condolences to Xi over the victims of recent flooding in the border region between China and Nepal, underscoring the humanitarian dimension of the bilateral meeting.

Visa policy has become an increasingly important element of relations between Moscow and Beijing as both sides seek to facilitate tourism, business exchanges and people-to-people contacts. A permanent visa-free regime could further simplify travel between the two countries and encourage greater movement of visitors.

The Kremlin has previously indicated that Russia would extend its visa-free arrangement with China until the end of 2027. The decision followed a similar move by Beijing, reflecting a reciprocal approach to easing travel restrictions.

The current discussions suggest that Moscow is considering going beyond temporary extensions and establishing a longer-term framework for visa-free travel. Such a measure could support the recovery and expansion of tourism flows while also making business travel between the two economies easier.

The proposal comes as Russia and China continue to strengthen economic and political ties. Cooperation has expanded in areas including energy, trade, transport, investment and regional connectivity, while high-level diplomatic contacts have remained frequent.

For Moscow, closer links with China have become particularly significant as Russia seeks to deepen economic partnerships in Asia. For Beijing, improved travel access to Russia could provide additional opportunities for tourism and commercial exchanges.

A permanent visa-free regime would therefore represent more than a technical change in travel rules. It could become another practical mechanism for strengthening the broader relationship between the two countries and increasing direct contacts between their populations.