 "India resumes tourist visas for Chinese nationals globally as China ties improve: Report – Firstpost")
India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals across the world, the report said, in a move seen as another step towards reducing tensions and rebuilding normal engagement between the two neighbours.
India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals through its embassies and consulates across the world, another step towards stabilizing relations after years of military tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Hindustan Times Informed.
According to the report, people familiar with the matter said Indian missions around the world started accepting tourist visa applications from Chinese nationals earlier this week, although no official announcement has been made.
This increased the scope of limited restoration in July, when visas were issued only at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Suspension from 2020 stand-off
Tourist visas were stopped after the standoff at the LAC in April-May 2020, which led to the Galwan Valley clash in which 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers were killed, took bilateral relations to their lowest level in decades.
Part of broader ‘people-centric’ measures
The renewed visa access is part of a set of “people-centric steps” agreed to by both sides to rebuild engagement. Direct flights between India and China resumed in October after more than four years.
The two countries have also agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra next summer, ease visa categories for travelers and hold events to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Momentum after withdrawal of troops on LAC
Talks gained momentum after India and China agreed to withdraw frontline troops on the LAC in October 2024.
Soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan and agreed to revive diplomatic and military mechanisms to restore normalcy and address the long-standing border dispute.
Progress in trade and cooperation
Subsequent engagement of the Foreign and Defense Ministers, National Security Advisors and Special Representatives – NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi – has led to progress in areas including border trade and economic cooperation.
China has also eased export restrictions on rare earth minerals in response to India’s trade concerns.
end of article
About The Author
