SRINAGAR: India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24, the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced on Wednesday, as per Reuters report.
The announcement comes after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s two-day visit to Beijing, highlighting renewed diplomatic engagement between the two Asian neighbours.
The announcement was also reported by Chinese state-affiliated media, which reported that Chinese nationals would need to personally submit applications at centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. “This marks the first time since the suspension in 2020 that India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens after a five-year hiatus, according to media reports,” reports Global Times.
The decision is seen as a major step toward normalising relations between the two countries, which have been tense due to the border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Travel between India and China was severly disrupted in recent years due to Covid-19 pandemic followed by Galwan clashes of 2020. While Beijing gradually resumed issuing visas to Indian students and businessmen, general travel remained restricted.
This will be the first time in five years that Chinese citizens can travel to India for tourism purposes.
