(MENAFN) President Vladimir Putin has endorsed a decree permitting Chinese nationals to enter Russia without a visa, allowing stays of up to 30 days.

This initiative reflects Beijing’s recent choice to grant Russian citizens the same visa-free privileges. In September, China rolled out this policy on a one-year trial basis to make travel between the two nations more convenient.

Under the new arrangement, Chinese travelers can visit Russia without a visa for private purposes, business activities, tourism, or participation in scientific, cultural, political, economic, or sporting events.

The regulation comes into effect on December 1 and is set to remain in force until September 14, 2026.

Earlier, Putin had welcomed China’s move to allow visa-free travel for Russians, noting that it would “undoubtedly” strengthen cultural and economic connections between the two countries, and he assured that Moscow would respond with reciprocal measures.

The impact of this policy is already visible in travel statistics, as Russian tourist visits to China increased by 30-40% year-on-year in October.

Two years ago, both nations agreed to permit visa-free travel for organized tour groups, which also helped boost tourism.

From January to July of this year, 237,000 Russians traveled to China, while 262,000 Chinese tourists visited Russia.

Currently, eight Russian airlines operate 36 routes to China, while ten Chinese carriers run 24 routes to Russia, totaling roughly 230 flights weekly.

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