Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia is ready to make visa-free travel with China permanent if Chinese officials consider the move beneficial.
Putin announced the proposal during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, news agency Interfax reported.
According to the Russian leader, work toward establishing a permanent arrangement can begin if the People's Republic of China considers such a decision useful and possible. Putin emphasized that tourist traffic between the two countries expanded by 43 percent during the first half of 2026.
Growth in Mutual Tourism
The proposal follows significant growth in travel between the two nations. Earlier, Dmitry Gorin, vice president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, stated that the visa-free regime between Russia and China ensured an average growth of mutual tourist flow by 20 to 30 percent in 2026, depending on the season.
Gorin noted that extending the visa-free regime for a longer period is very important for tourism, as consistent border rules help travel providers plan long-term routes and group itineraries.
Bilateral Travel Frameworks
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian political, economic, international security, and defence organization established in 2001. Founded to deepen regional cooperation, its annual summits bring together heads of state from across Asia, providing a key venue for bilateral talks between member countries on economic ties and border policies.
The Russian Union of Travel Industry is a major non-profit professional association that represents tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, and tourism service providers throughout Russia. The organization monitors market trends, advocates for industry interests, and works to improve conditions for international and domestic tourism.
Visa-free travel agreements allow citizens to cross international borders without obtaining an advance visa, typically for short stays such as tourism or business visits. Short-term group visa exemption programs are commonly used to promote cross-border travel between neighboring countries, reducing administrative hurdles for travelers and tour companies.
