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In a significant step towards restoring India-China relations, the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced the resumption of tourist visa issuance for Chinese citizens starting July 24, 2025. This comes after a five-year suspension due to the Galwan Valley military standoff and the COVID-19 pandemic that severely impacted cross-border engagements.
Chinese nationals can now apply for tourist visas online and complete the process through appointments at the Indian Embassy in Beijing or the consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
China Welcomes the “Positive Move”
Calling it a “positive move,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that easing travel restrictions between the two nations benefits both sides. MFA spokesperson Guo Jiakun affirmed that China remains open to communication and consultation with India to further facilitate cross-border travel, a key driver of improved diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
Tourist Exchange in Numbers
Before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, over 3 lakh Chinese tourists visited India, while nearly 8.7 lakh Indian travelers visited China. These numbers plummeted in the wake of mutual visa suspensions and flight cancellations.
China had gradually restored visas for students, business travelers, and tourists from India, issuing 85,000 visas between January and June 2025. India, until now, had only offered visas in business and education categories.
High-Level Diplomacy Paves the Way
The move follows a renewed diplomatic outreach, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Beijing in mid-July. Talks included discussions on restarting the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, resuming direct flights, and rebuilding strategic trust.
Ongoing Disagreements on Water Projects
Amid this diplomatic momentum, China’s 60,000 MW Medog hydropower project on the Yarlung Sangpo (Brahmaputra) river remains a concern for India and Bangladesh. While Beijing asserts sovereign rights, both India and Dhaka have registered concerns about ecological and disaster risks. China maintains it is sharing hydrological data and remains in communication with downstream nations.
Outlook
The visa resumption is a symbolic and practical step toward thawing India-China ties. While strategic concerns remain, especially around border security and water disputes, reopening tourism signals a renewed willingness to engage. Further breakthroughs, including direct flights and pilgrimage access, could follow ahead of PM Modi’s visit for the SCO summit in late August.
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