Overview

• Speaking at the Valdai forum on October 2, Vladimir Putin praised China’s visa waiver for Russians as a pleasant surprise attributed to Xi Jinping.
• He pledged a mirrored policy for Chinese tourists and said an official announcement will follow in the near future.
• Putin reported that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told him the Russian decision has already been taken.
• He noted that bureaucratic checks are still being completed before the measure takes effect.
• China’s trial policy, in place since September 15, allows Russians visa-free stays up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits and exchange visits, which Moscow expects will deepen people-to-people ties.