China opens doors to Indians, issues 85,000 visas in four months

The Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025, marking a significant step towards boosting stronger people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong, in a social media post, welcomed more Indians to explore China’s vibrant culture, calling it an “open, safe, sincere, and friendly” destination.

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Visa boost for Indians

In a bid to promote tourism and people-to-people diplomacy, China has announced major visa relaxations for Indian travellers:

1. No prior appointment is needed to submit applications at visa centres

2. Biometric exemption for short-term visits

3. Lower visa fees, making travel more affordable

4. Faster processing times, benefitting business and leisure travellers

These steps aim to make China more accessible for Indian students, tourists, and professionals, especially after years of pandemic-related travel hurdles.

China is also actively inviting Indian tourists by showcasing its cultural richness, seasonal attractions, and popular festivals and destinations.

Also Read: India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals: IATA

Economic solidarity

Amid escalating trade tensions with the United States, especially under Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats, China has been pushing for greater cooperation with India.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing emphasised the importance of India-China economic and trade relations and called on both nations to resist unilateralism and protectionism.

She emphasised that “trade and tariff wars have no winners”, promoting the idea of joint resistance to US-imposed tariffs.

Trust-building efforts

Despite border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Beijing’s move is seen as a soft-power strategy to rebuild trust at the ground level even as officials are trying to resolve the larger border and trade issues.

Strengthening cultural and academic ties, particularly as Indian students return to Chinese universities, is part of this broader engagement.

The increase in visa approvals also highlights a renewed dedication by India and China to foster exchanges in culture, education, business, and tourism.

Also Read: Sino-Indian border generally stable, work to better bilateral ties: China

China has remained a favoured destination for Indian students, especially those studying medicine, with thousands enrolled in its universities.

The return of student travel has been widely appreciated, as many Indian students faced obstacles in continuing their education due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.