New Delhi, April 16: The Chinese Embassy in India announced that it issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025. The move highlights Beijing’s significant effort to enhance people-to-people interactions and rejuvenate travel across the two nations after the pandemic.
The number marks a sharp increase from past years, with only 180,000 visas issued in 2023. The surge follows a series of reforms in China’s visa policy to simplify the application process for Indian travelers. The embassy has eliminated the need for online appointments, allowing applicants to submit documents directly at visa centers on working days. Moreover, those applying for short-term, single, or double-entry visas for stays under 180 days are now exempt from providing biometric data like fingerprints.
In further enhancements, the embassy reduced visa fees which makes travel to China more affordable for Indian tourists, students, and business professionals.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong took to X to extend a warm invitation:
“Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.”
The increase in visa issuance comes after China eased several application procedures for Indian travelers. A systematic online booking process was removed allowing direct submissions at visa centers on working days. There was also a change in policy for the short-term single or double-entry visa. Biometric data such as fingerprints were no longer needed for those staying 180 days or less.
Amid these developments, China is appealing to India and other developing nations for support against “U.S. tariff abuse.”
Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, urged solidarity between New Delhi and Beijing:
“China-India economic and trade relationship is based on complementarity and mutual benefit. Facing the US abuse of tariffs, the two largest developing countries should stand together to overcome the difficulties.”
As geopolitical tensions rise, China’s dual-track strategy of strengthening grassroots ties while seeking diplomatic alignment points to a broader regional balancing act aimed at countering Washington’s economic assertiveness.
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