China has announced the extension of its visa-free travel policy for Russian citizens through December 31, 2027, a move aimed at fostering closer ties between the two nations. This announcement coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to Beijing. The visa-free arrangement allows holders of ordinary Russian passports to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa for purposes such as business, tourism, and family visits. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation in trade, finance, energy, and technology. Following the introduction of the visa-free regime, Russian citizens made 2.5 million trips to China in 2025, marking a 30% increase compared to the previous year. Similarly, Chinese tourists made up more than half of the 1.64 million foreign visitors to Russia in the same year. The Kremlin has praised the effectiveness of the visa-free policy, which was initially introduced as a trial last September. Both countries are committed to deepening their people-to-people exchanges and commercial initiatives.