China Exempts Russians from Visa for 30 Days

(MENAFN) China announced on Tuesday that it will implement a visa-free entry policy allowing Russian tourists to stay up to 30 days, effective from September 15, 2025, through a one-year trial period ending September 14, 2026.

During this trial, "ordinary passport holders from Russia can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family, friends, visit, exchange and transit purposes," confirmed Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun during a routine press briefing in Beijing.

Highlighting the strengthening relationship between the two countries, Guo emphasized that Russia and China engage in friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, including energy, guided by principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

In response to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s remarks on Monday, which described the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China from August 31 to September 1 as largely performative and accused India of financing the Russian war effort in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil, Guo issued a firm rebuttal.

He stated, "on the Ukraine crisis, China has always upheld an objective and adjusted position." Guo reinforced this stance, adding, "We have always been fair and square, and that is for all to see."

Regarding the Tianjin SCO summit, Guo highlighted that it was the largest and most productive meeting in the history of the organization.

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