India and China to roll out visa on arrival

March 11, 2015 13:17
India and China to roll out visa on arrival

Indians could soon join the same queue as passport holders from Singapore, Brunei and Japan when they land in Beijing or Shanghai and become eligible for visas on arrival in China. Overturning decades of mistrust, India may become the next to get this favour.  Moves by the two most populous countries in the world would be seen as a great leap of sorts ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Beijing in May. India is widening the number of countries on the VoA list to 150 from 43. 

The Indian embassy in Beijing has pitched for visa on arrival (VoA) facilities for Chinese tourists and sought a relaxation of security restrictions to ensure greater investment from that country to strengthen ties. If China is included in the first phase of this move in the next two months, a reciprocal gesture from the neighbouring nation could follow suit in time for Modi's trip. 

With economic prosperity and rising levels of income, Chinese tourists are big spenders. China is currently celebrating a 'Visit India Year 2015' and India will have a 'Visit China Year' in 2016 to boost tourism. Chinese government sources recalled that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on visa liberalisation that was on the cards during President Xi Jinping's trip last September had been deferred and they are waiting to see if this can be finalised during Modi's visit.

By Premji

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India  China  Visa on arrival