The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the decision on visa-free entry for Chinese citizens to Russia important.

The decision on visa-free entry for Chinese citizens to Russia is very important, as it will serve as an impetus for the development of further contacts. This was announced on December 2 by the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Wang Yi.

"This is a very serious signal. From the first moment we arrived in Moscow, we were pleased with the news that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin signed a decree abolishing visas for Chinese citizens. This vividly reflects our relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation in a new era," said the head of the Chinese diplomatic department.

Wang Yi stressed that the visa-free regime would further facilitate mutual travel for Russian and Chinese citizens. It will also serve as a new impetus for further contacts and cooperation between the states.

Beijing, while it's hot: Russians are buying tickets to China due to the introduction of visa-free travel

The average cost of a two-person tour for a week is 120-150 thousand rubles, depending on the destination

On December 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the temporary entry procedure for Chinese citizens to Russia. According to the document, by September 14, 2026, Chinese citizens will be able to enter Russia and stay on its territory without visas for up to 30 days, subject to the principle of reciprocity. Holders of ordinary Chinese passports are allowed to visit Russia for guest and business visits, for tourist and other purposes.

Maya Lomidze, Executive Director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), suggested on the same day that the tourist flow from China to Russia would increase by at least 30% due to the decision to cancel visas for tourists from China.

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