India Reopens Tourist Visas for Chinese Nationals, Boosting Bilateral Ties
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India has resumed tourist visas for Chinese citizens, allowing them to apply through Indian missions and consulates worldwide. This move comes after a four-month pause and marks a significant step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. The decision to reopen tourist visas was made possible after India and China agreed on several 'people-centric steps' to stabilize and rebuild ties. These efforts include the resumption of direct flights between the two nations, which were suspended in 2020, as well as the agreement to revive the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra to sacred sites in the Tibet region. In July, India had initially resumed tourist visas for Chinese citizens, but this new move allows them to apply through Indian missions and consulates worldwide. The decision is part of a broader effort to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, as guided by the leaders of both countries. India and China reached an understanding on disengagement of frontline forces along the Line of Actual Control in October 2024, marking a significant breakthrough in their long-standing border dispute. Since then, the two nations have engaged in several high-level meetings, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia. These meetings have resulted in understandings on resuming cooperation in various areas, including border trade and economic issues. China has also taken steps to address India's trade-related concerns, such as export restrictions on rare earth minerals. The reopening of tourist visas is seen as a positive development in the efforts to normalize bilateral ties between India and China. It is expected to boost people-to-people exchanges and contribute to the overall improvement of relations between the two nations.
