New Delhi: In a major diplomatic gesture signaling a thaw in strained bilateral ties, India has announced that it will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens beginning July 24, ending a five-year suspension that followed heightened border tensions in 2020.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing confirmed the decision in an official notification on Tuesday, stating that Chinese nationals can now apply for tourist visas, both electronic and regular, to visit India.
The visa suspension was one of several restrictions imposed after the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June 2020, which led to the deaths of soldiers on both sides. Since then, relations between the two Asian giants have remained tense, with stalled diplomatic talks and restricted cross-border exchanges.
However, in recent years, limited categories of visas had been gradually restored. China began allowing Indian students and professionals to return in 2022, and direct flights between the two countries resumed earlier this year.
Reacting to the development, China’s Foreign Ministry welcomed India’s move, calling it a “positive step” that aligns with efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges. “We support the constant improvement of travel and cooperation between our citizens,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing in Beijing.
Despite this progress, key issues remain unresolved. India has continued to press for the complete disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while also voicing concerns over trade imbalances and Chinese investment restrictions.
Observers view the resumption of tourist visas as part of a broader diplomatic reset aimed at reducing friction and restoring normalcy, especially in the wake of China’s own push to improve global relations following the pandemic-era lockdowns.
With this move, Chinese nationals can now explore India’s tourism sector, which has been actively seeking to recover from the downturn caused by COVID-19 and geopolitical strains.
The decision comes as India looks to balance strategic interests with economic recovery and cultural diplomacy, while also signaling openness to re-engaging with its northern neighbor — albeit cautiously.
