Moscow to mirror Beijing’s visa-free move – Putin

China earlier this week announced the same privilege for Russians during a one-year trial period

Moscow will grant visa-free entry to Chinese visitors, following Beijing’s decision earlier this week to extend the same privilege to Russian nationals, President Vladimir Putin has said. The reciprocal measure will strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two countries, he added.

Putin made the remarks on Thursday in Vladivostok while meeting with senior Chinese official Li Hongzhong, a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

He called China’s decision to ease entry for Russians a “very significant step” that would help boost business, saying: “Of course, Russia will respond to this friendly act in kind. We will do the same.”

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