China Hails India’s Move To Fast-Track Business Visas For Chinese Professionals As ‘Positive Step
China has welcomed India’s decision to fast-track approvals for business visas issued to Chinese professionals, describing the move as a “positive step”. Beijing’s response came after India adjusted its visa policy to allow Chinese nationals to apply under the business visa category in addition to the existing employment visa route.
“We’ve noted this positive move,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a media briefing, when asked about reports that India plans to speed up the processing of business visas for Chinese business visitors, according to PTI. Jiakun added that easing cross-border travel “serves the common interests of all parties” and said China would continue communication and consultation with India to further promote people-to-people exchanges.
India’s new business visa rules
India revised its visa rules amid a surge in applications from Chinese nationals travelling for short business visits, people familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times. Previously, Chinese visitors coming for business purposes were typically issued employment visas valid for six months or longer; the government has now decided to issue business, or “B”, visas for shorter durations instead.
Officials said a decision has also been taken to issue these visas within three to four weeks. Although the changes formally apply to nationals of all countries, Chinese applicants are expected to benefit the most from the move.
Ties improving after years of strain
Relations between India and China had deteriorated sharply after border tensions along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in 2020. Ties have gradually improved since a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year.
The two leaders met again in Tianjin during the SCO summit in August this year, after which the first group of Indian pilgrims travelled to Kailash Manasarovar in Tibet, and flights linking several cities in both countries resumed after a hiatus of more than five years. In July this year, India also restarted issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals, another significant step towards normalising bilateral relations.