India extends tourist visa facilities to Chinese citizens

Chinese citizens will now be able to apply for tourist visas to India through Indian missions and consulates across the world as both the countries stepped up efforts to rebuild ties following the resolution of the eastern Ladakh military standoff.

In July, India reintroduced tourist visas for Chinese nationals.

The issuance of visas to Chinese nationals was suspended after the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020.

Tourist visas for Chinese nationals were opened at Indian embassies and consulates around the world earlier this week, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Following the resumption of issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals, applications were received at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

India and China, in recent months, have agreed on a number of people-centric steps to stabilize and rebuild relations.

These include other agreements including resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, resumption of direct flights, celebration of 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and visa facility.

Direct flights resumed in October.

These steps are aimed at facilitating people-to-people exchanges as directed by the leaders of the two countries, the people cited above said.