A couple rest on a bench on the slope of Goryachaya Mountain in the spa resort city of Pyatigorsk, southeast of Stavropol.

Putin announces visa-free entry for Chinese citizens to start ‘very soon’

(Global Times/BRNN) –Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday that China’s determination and position to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia have always been consistent, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.
He made the remarks in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
The premier urged both sides to jointly host new China-Russia national-level theme years well, leverage mutually beneficial policies, such as visa-free access, to serve the public interest, promote better mutual understanding and closer ties between the peoples of the two countries, and consolidate the foundation of people-to-people friendship in bilateral relations, according to Xinhua.
During the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will introduce visa-free travel for Chinese citizens in the very near future, multiple Russian media outlets including Russia Today reported, in move that mirrors China’s recent decision to grant the same privilege to Russian nationals.
Putin praised China’s decision in to grant Russians visa-free entry, saying it would “undoubtedly” contribute to further strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two countries, per RT.
“From our side, very soon, reciprocal measures will come into force for citizens of China visiting Russia,” he said, adding that it would help boost bilateral cooperation, according to RT.
China has decided to trial a visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports starting from September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on September 2.
Russian citizens holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends or exchange visits and transit for no more than 30 days can enter China visa-free, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference.

(Latest Update November 20, 2025)