China seek to simplify visa-regime with Russia

China call for simplification of visa arrangements with Russia – said Chinese Ambassador to Russia Mr. Li Hui during a press-conference in Moscow.

Mr. Ambassador reminded that in July 2009 visas between Hong Kong Special Administrative District and Russian Federation have been waived for trips no longer than 14 days. Besides since the end of August 2010 groups of over 2 people from Russia who booked their itinerary from a Chinese travel agent can travel to Hainan Province for up to 21 days with no visa.

Mr. Li Hui also informed the press that the Chinese tourist visa may only be obtained upon producing of an invitation from a Chinese travel agent or of a return plane ticket and a hotel booking in China.

“Business visitors from Russia can travel to China after getting a business visa using an official invitation from their Chinese partners or other relevant authorities. In order to make traveling simpler the Chinese issue single or multi-entry business and tourist visas using just photocopies of said papers. One can surely say that Chinese visa application procedures for the Russians are quite easy and there are no complications whatsoever” – stressed Mr. Ambassador.

At the same time Mr. Li Hui stated that the mutual border traffic was not equal. He claims that the number of Russian citizens that come to China is much higher than that of Chinese coming to Russia. “For example in 2010 the number of Russian visitors in China was 2.7 million while there were only 780 thousand Chinese in Russia. In the latter years Chinese businessmen, managers and technical staff have been facing problems in obtaining Russian visa, the procedure is time-consuming, requires quite a set of documents and has numerous restrictions” – the diplomat pointed out.