China Welcomes India’s Move to Fast-Track Business Visas for Chinese Professionals

China on Friday, December 12, 2025, welcomed India’s decision to speed up the approval of business visas for Chinese professionals visiting the country for short periods, calling it a “positive” development.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a media briefing, “We’ve noted this positive move. Easing cross-border travel serves the common interests of all parties.”

He added that China will continue communication and consultation with India to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Boost to Trade and Investment

The move is expected to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries by making it easier for Chinese business professionals to visit India.

In July, India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a gap of more than five years—a key step in normalising bilateral relations. China reciprocated by granting visas to Indian tourists, including group tours.

Background: Resetting Ties

Tourist visas had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained halted due to the military standoff in Eastern Ladakh in April 2020, which froze bilateral relations.

The thaw began after meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, first at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year, and later in Tianjin during the SCO summit in August 2025. Since then, Indian pilgrims have resumed visits to Kailash Manasarovar in Tibet, and flights connecting various cities in both countries have restarted after more than five years.