India resumes tourist visas for Chinese: First time since 2020 border clash; Beijing welcomes move

NEW DELHI: India will restart issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24, its embassy in China announced on Wednesday, marking the first such move in five years, as both countries take steps to repair a relationship strained by border clashes and trade tensions, reported Reuters.

The decision follows a period of deep freeze in diplomatic and people-to-people ties after the 2020 Galwan clashes. In the aftermath, India had imposed sweeping restrictions on Chinese investments, banned hundreds of Chinese apps, and curtailed passenger traffic.

While China resumed issuing visas for Indian students and business travellers in 2022 after lifting Covid-era curbs, tourist visas for Chinese nationals remained suspended until now. The reopening follows a March agreement between the two nations to resume direct air connectivity.

China welcomed India’s move. “China is ready to maintain communication and consultation with India and constantly improve the level of personal exchanges,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.

Signs of a diplomatic thaw have been building. Last year, PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Russia, and both sides have continued high-level meetings to address friction points.

Still, the core issue, the 3,800 km (2,400-mile) disputed border, remains unresolved. India’s foreign minister recently reiterated to his Chinese counterpart the need to resolve the military standoff, pull back troops, and move past trade restrictions to fully normalize ties.