India to restart tourist visas for Chinese citizens
The restrictions were imposed during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued after relations between the countries became strained due to a deadly border clash in the Himalayas in 2020.
'From July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India,' the Indian Embassy said in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Beijing has long requested the reissuing of visas to its citizens, in addition to restarting direct flights between India and mainland China, which were also suspended in 2020.
BRICS on Holiday! India to Welcome Back Chinese Tourists for First Time in Five Years!Visas will be issued for Chinese citizens from Thursday, India's embassy in China has announced. It marks another positive step towards mending relations after a military clash along the… pic.twitter.com/Dl5QDx4J5C
'Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. 'China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.'
Efforts to normalize ties between the two countries began in October last year, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan. Both leaders gave their nod to follow an agreement to disengage from areas of tension and a commitment to work towards restoring relations.
Following multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks, certain proposals to ease trade and investment restrictions between India and China have gained momentum, driven by industry demands.
Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at a meeting in Beijing with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, said, 'Since our leaders' meeting in October 2024, the relationship has been gradually moving in a positive direction.'
In June, a group of Indians crossed over into Tibet for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, one of the holiest pilgrimages in Hinduism. The pilgrimage, which traverses two sacred sites, was also resumed after a five-year hiatus.
Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing is ready to enhance trilateral cooperation with New Delhi and Moscow.
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In this context, parallels are drawn between Xi's vision of 'a community with a shared future for mankind' and Modi's concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' ('the world is one family'), which is rooted in ancient Indian philosophy and emphasizes harmony and interconnectedness. The Chinese-launched Global Civilization Initiative also seeks to revive pre-modern cultural frameworks and plurality of civilizations, aligning conceptually with similar trends in India. During his meetings in Beijing, Jaishankar reiterated India's principle of strategic autonomy and its independent foreign policy – an approach that resonates with China's own diplomatic posture. He described India and China as development partners rather than rivals, countering dominant Western narratives that frame China-India relations largely through the lens of competition and threat. The triangular dynamic involving the US complicates the picture. Current pressures from Washington – particularly the shared risk of a trade war and the volatility of US foreign policy – act as a common concern for both New Delhi and Beijing. India, China, and other BRICS nations are facing increased scrutiny from the White House and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who have threatened secondary sanctions over continued economic ties with Russia. These external pressures may inadvertently bring China and India closer together, as both seek to safeguard their strategic autonomy and development trajectories. Historically, the US has sought to exploit gaps between India and China in a bid to prevent closer cooperation. That strategy may be less effective in an era where both Beijing and New Delhi are increasingly conscious of the need to define their relationship on their own terms. Despite these positive trends, substantial challenges remain. Chief among them is the unresolved boundary dispute, which remains the most sensitive and complex issue in the bilateral relationship. The Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which resulted in around two dozen fatalities, caused a severe deterioration in ties. However, the June 2025 visit of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to China signaled a renewed willingness to seek a permanent resolution. Trade-related frictions also persist. India faces restrictions on the import of rare earth magnets from China, which are crucial for strategic and industrial sectors. Intermittent Chinese export controls disrupt Indian manufacturing and deter Chinese foreign direct investment. Conversely, India restricts Chinese investment citing national security concerns, has banned several Chinese apps, and conducted raids on Chinese companies. Geopolitically, the competition for regional influence continues to strain relations. China's growing presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean clashes with India's strategic interests, especially in countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. India has consistently refused to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), largely due to its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through contested territory. Plans for massive infrastructure projects such as the construction of the world's largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo river, which flows into India, remain points of tension. To move beyond these obstacles, it is essential to build a stable and effective border trust mechanism. Restoring strategic dialogue platforms and enhancing multi-level security cooperation are indispensable steps toward creating a mature and resilient bilateral relationship. What is required is long-term, sustained, and measurable interaction supported by enduring political will, pragmatic consultative frameworks, and – above all – mutual respect for each other's core interests. At a more practical level, the two countries could reconsider the potential of the China-Nepal-India Economic Corridor (CNIEC). Proposed by Beijing in 2018 and backed by Kathmandu, the CNIEC envisions greater connectivity and economic integration across the Himalayan region. Though India has so far rejected the proposal, revisiting it could offer shared economic and strategic benefits. Another concrete step would be the restoration of military exercises, which were launched in 2007 but suspended after 2019. Renewed military cooperation would enhance strategic trust and transparency. Additionally, greater coordination in hydro-political domain is vital. Seven major rivers originate in China's Xizang region and flow through India. This creates both risks and opportunities for the two nations. While a full normalization of China-India relations may still be distant, the latest developments point toward a cautious but real shift. In a global context marked by uncertainty, polarization, and geopolitical realignment, the two Asian giants have much to gain from pragmatic engagement and mutual respect. The dragon and the elephant may still step on each other's toes, but their carefully choreographed tango is once again underway.
