Overview
- Putin told Xi during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek on Monday that Russia is ready to work with China to convert their temporary reciprocal visa‑free regime into a permanent arrangement.
- The visa‑free measure began with a Russian decree on December 1, 2025 that allowed Chinese visitors 30 days visa free on a reciprocal basis and both sides extended the arrangement through the end of 2027.
- Officials cited sharp tourism growth as justification for permanence, with China’s ambassador to Russia saying Chinese arrivals rose almost 50% in Q1 2026 and Russia reporting a 43% rise in trips in the first half of 2026.
- No binding decision has been announced and making the regime permanent would require a formal bilateral agreement plus administrative work on reciprocity, border controls and security procedures.
- If adopted, the change would make short visits easier for citizens and could boost local tourism and business links while also prompting closer coordination on entry rules and border management between Moscow and Beijing.