China has significantly relaxed its visa procedures for Indian nationals, issuing over 85,000 visas by April 9, 2025. These changes come as part of Beijing's broader efforts to attract more Indian visitors and foster stronger people-to-people ties between the two nations. The move follows a series of new visa facilitation measures and renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at improving bilateral relations.

Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, took to the social media platform X to extend a warm invitation to Indian travellers. “As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens travelling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China,” he wrote in a post on Sunday.

In March, Ambassador Xu had earlier announced that over 50,000 visas had already been granted to Indian applicants. “While flowers blossom in spring, we welcome more Indian friends to visit China and get a first-hand experience of China in spring,” he remarked at the time, emphasising China's desire to boost cultural and tourism exchanges.

What’s New in Chinese Visa Rules for Indians

Over the past few months, China has rolled out several visa-related relaxations specifically designed to simplify the travel process for Indian citizens. These reforms aim to streamline application procedures, reduce costs and speed up approvals.

Applicants from India are no longer required to schedule mandatory online appointments, which has made the visa process quicker and more accessible. Additionally, Indian citizens visiting China for short durations are now exempt from submitting biometric data, further reducing the time and effort involved in obtaining a visa.

To complement these changes, China has also shortened the overall visa processing time, enabling faster approvals. Furthermore, Chinese visa fees have been lowered, making travel to the country more affordable for Indian tourists. These initiatives reflect China’s strategic push to promote tourism and rebuild cross-border engagement following years of strained ties.

Encouraging Indian Tourism and Diplomatic Dialogue

Authorities from the Chinese Embassy in India and various consulates are actively promoting Chinese tourism among Indian nationals. By making the visa process easier and more economical, they hope to attract a larger number of Indian tourists, students, and business travellers.

This wave of outreach follows a key diplomatic development earlier this year. In January, India and China reached an agreement to resume direct air connectivity between the two nations after a nearly five-year suspension. The decision was made following discussions between India’s senior diplomat Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both sides agreed to negotiate the framework for resuming flights “at an early date,” while also working on resolving trade and economic differences.

From Tension to Thaw

Relations between India and China had deteriorated following a deadly border clash in 2020 along the Himalayan frontier, where at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops lost their lives. However, diplomatic ties have gradually improved since an agreement in October 2023 to de-escalate military tensions along the disputed border. The same month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Russia, signalling a renewed willingness to stabilise bilateral relations.

With over 85,000 visas issued so far this year and further diplomatic overtures underway, China is actively reaching out to Indian citizens to strengthen travel and cultural exchange. By easing travel restrictions and improving diplomatic communication, both nations appear to be taking steps towards rebuilding trust and cooperation across various fronts.

As China continues to present itself as a “safe, open, vibrant, sincere and friendly” destination, its efforts to welcome more Indian visitors may mark a new chapter in India-China relations, with tourism serving as a bridge for deeper understanding and engagement.