India Resumes Tourist Visas For Chinese Nationals After Five-Year Hiatus

In a significant diplomatic development, India has resumed the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a five-year suspension. The decision, announced by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, allows Chinese citizens to apply for tourist visas starting this week.

The move comes as part of New Delhi’s broader efforts to normalize ties with Beijing, which were severely impacted by the military standoff in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in 2020. Initially triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the suspension of tourist visas to Chinese nationals remained in place due to prolonged tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as per a report on PTI.

The Indian Embassy stated that visa applications from Chinese tourists will be accepted from Thursday, marking the first such relaxation since the freeze in 2020.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, India suspended all tourist visas in 2020, while China also stopped issuing visas to Indian citizens and other foreign nationals. Although China began easing restrictions in 2022 for students and business travellers, many Indian students were still barred from returning to attend physical classes. In April 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals would no longer be valid for travel to India, reported The Hindustan Times. This move was widely interpreted as a retaliatory measure against China’s continued restrictions on the return of around 22,000 Indian students stranded abroad.

China's Foreign Affairs Ministry Welcomes Move

Welcoming the decision, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said, "We take note of India’s resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens. This is a positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries."

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