AGENCY
beijing, Apr 16
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihond has hinted at the thaw in the India-China relationship, stating that the Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025.
In a post on X, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong welcomed “Indian friends” to visit China and experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.
This comes as Beijing recently introduced a slew of relaxations to facilitate more visitors from India to China. These include doing away with online appointments for submitting visa applications and exempting from biometric exemptions for short-time travellers. The visa fee has also been reduced along with the visa approval timeline for both business and leisure travellers.
Not only that, but both countries are also exploring options to revive the direct passenger flight services between the two countries. Though no timeline has been announced, Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said both nations’ aviation ministries have completed the first round of talks. “We have had one round of meetings… some issues remain unresolved,” Vualnam said during a recent industry event in New Delhi.
The direct flights were halted in the wake of the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.
Many feel this could be a soft power move, especially in the wake of the recent Trump Tariff standoff. China had recently sought the support of India against US-imposed tariffs, calling Washington’s latest trade measures an “abuse” that harms developing economies. Many also speculated that the current US-China fallout could be an opportunity for India, but it is still imperative that both countries establish a warm relationship.
Foreign policy analyst Michael Kugelman thinks “much will need to fall into place – bilaterally and more broadly geopolitically – for it to enjoy a true rapprochement” despite the bright spots in the relations between the two countries, which include constant trade ties and high-level military talks.
“Future high-level engagement is also important. If Modi and Xi, both of whom place a premium on personal diplomacy, meet this year, this would bolster recent momentum in bilateral ties,” he wrote in the BBC.
He suggested that the countries have a lot to gain through good relationships. While Chinese investment will bring critical capital to key Indian industries, thereby easing India’s $85bn (£65.7bn) trade deficit with China, the move would also give China more access to the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
