New Delhi, December 13 (ANI): Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev said India’s decision to speed up tourist and business visas for Chinese citizens signals a subtle recalibration of ties between the two countries despite the unresolved border dispute.
Sachdev told ANI that faster issuance of business visas for Chinese professionals points to two developments: an improvement in geopolitical relations and stronger trade ties between India and China. “When India is speeding up the issuance of business visas for Chinese professionals, it implies two things. One, it means progress in the geopolitical relationship between India and China. On the other hand, it means better trade relations between China and India,” he said, while noting that the land dispute persists but both sides appear willing to reassess their relationship.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed in November that the visa regime for tourism and business purposes for Chinese nationals is “fully functional,” ending a five-year suspension imposed after the 2020 border clashes. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Visas for tourists are being given to Chinese nationals and business visas were being given earlier. So you know, all those visas are now in place. The visa regime of tourism and business, etc, is fully functional.”
India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals worldwide in November 2025, expanding a limited reopening that began in July 2025. Business visas had already been issued before the latest announcement. These steps are part of a package of people-centric confidence-building measures agreed in 2025, which also included the restart of direct commercial flights in October 2025 and the revival of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage.
The Chinese Embassy in India said it will launch an online visa application system on December 22. Ambassador Xu Feihong posted the link for applicants on X: https://visaforchina.cn/DEL3_EN/qianzhengyewu, inviting travellers to complete forms and upload documents.
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