China Welcomes ‘Indian Friends’, Eases Visa Rules!

China Embraces Indian Friends, Eases Visa Rules, Issues 85,000 Visas

China is trying to bring its people closer to India in terms of human-ties by relaxing its visa policy, that has already shown impressive success. Issuance of more than 85,000 visas in three months itself is testimony to the fact that the countries are opening up from narrowing bureaucratic channels and streamlining processes enabling travel between these two populous nations .

The Chinese Embassy and its consulates have introduced a series of reforms designed to simplify the application process for obtaining Chinese visas in India. One of the most attractive changes is that there is no longer the need to book an appointment online before coming to the visa centers. The Indian applicants now have the privilege of avoiding the longer-than-usual waiting periods and coming directly to the visa centers to apply for visas. This adjustment not only saves time but also reduces administrative burden on both sides.

Another very big change is that short visitors won’t have to provide biometric data. This requirement for a biometric has traditionally been the most time-consuming process in applying for visas. The application processing time has been greatly reduced with this requirement being waived for travelers remaining in China for a short time, thus making the acquisition of visas much easier for tourists and business visitors.

The fee structure for visas has also been revised. China, by lowering the charges, has quite practically made travel India-cheaper. With the cost reduction, it is expected that more and more people would be drawn to India’s territory. Such developments gain particular prominence in view of the countries’ intention to enhance international tourism and advance economic and cultural exchanges. Reduction in processing time coupled with price cuts acts as a further excitement for Indians coming to China, a further initiative under the grand plan of Beijing to show an open and friendly image.

Very expressive on social media regarding the initiative was Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong. “Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China,” this poetical message on social media said to the people from India. These words from the Ambassador reflect a conscious soft power strategy to generate better impressions towards each other and also to strengthen economic and cultural ties between India and China. The simplification of visa rules becomes a great practical measure but also a diplomatic gesture of reaching out, signaling, hence, China’s willingness to reach out to its neighbors, Indians, constructively.

The new visa policy comes at a time when travel between India and China has always been troublesome. In recent years, external factors, such as extremely strict COVID-19 restrictions and tensions related to diplomatic relations, have resulted in cutting the movement of tourists and business travelers between the two countries. China will soon be breaking ground with a vacation trend by removing travel restrictions and putting the pieces together step-by-step again to restore trust and cooperation between both nations.

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The aftermath of such reforms would be wider than tourism-related matters. Easy visa access is likely to promote more business travel, academic exchanges, and cultural interactions that could then grow into a stronger economic development in both countries. Traveling conditions probably make it possible to resume direct flights alongside better logistical support for trade and investment measures that could then set the path toward such commercial connections.

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