The Chinese Embassy in India has issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens in the first four months of 2025 (January 1 to April 9). This is part of efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Announcing the achievement on social media platform X, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said, “We welcome more and more Indian friends to experience an open, safe, vibrant, honest and friendly China.”
This increase is remarkable, as only 1,80,000 visas were issued in the entire year 2023. This increase in the number of visas issued is due to the recent simplification of the visa process by China.
Visa simplification measures include:
- Eliminate the need for online appointments
- Facility to submit application directly at visa centers
- Relaxation in requirement of biometric data for short-term visas
- reduction in visa application fees
This announcement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new trade tariffs on various countries, especially China. The Trump administration has increased the tariff on Chinese imports to 145 percent, in response to which China has imposed a 125 percent duty on American products.
Amid this trade tension, China has called on other countries, including India, to unite against ‘US tariff abuse’. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing in India made it clear last week that the two major countries with similar development goals should adopt a common approach on this issue.
