对俄试行免签今起生效，俄罗斯赴华旅游人数激增

Core Viewpoint - The implementation of a visa-free policy for Russian citizens traveling to China is expected to significantly enhance bilateral exchanges, tourism, and business interactions between the two countries, with projections of increased visitor numbers and economic benefits [3][4][9]. Group 1: Visa-Free Policy Impact - Starting from September 15, 2025, Russian citizens holding ordinary passports can enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for up to 30 days without a visa [3][4]. - The Russian government has responded positively, with President Putin announcing a reciprocal visa-free policy for Chinese citizens [4][11]. - The Russian tourism industry anticipates a 30% to 40% increase in the number of Russian tourists visiting China due to the new policy [4][9]. Group 2: Growth in Tourism - In 2024, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Russia reached 1.0394 million, a year-on-year increase of 209.3%, while Russia received 1.5035 million visitors from China, up 115.1% [4][8]. - The number of Russian citizens flying to China in the first half of 2023 was 661,600, representing a growth of over 70% [8][9]. - The visa-free policy is expected to push the number of Russian visitors to China beyond 2 million by 2025 [9][12]. Group 3: Economic and Cultural Exchange - The visa-free policy is anticipated to lower travel costs and time for Russian citizens, encouraging more visits for both business and tourism [7][9]. - Increased interactions are expected in various sectors, including business, culture, and science, with Russian scientists showing interest in establishing partnerships in China [9][12]. - The bilateral trade volume between China and Russia reached a record high of $244.8 billion in 2024, indicating strong economic ties [9]. Group 4: Travel Infrastructure and Challenges - The rise in travel demand has led to increased flight prices, with round-trip tickets from China to Russia rising from approximately 4,000 RMB to 6,000 RMB [13]. - The number of flights between China and Russia has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 2,248 flights recorded in August 2023 [13]. - There are ongoing efforts to improve payment systems for Chinese tourists in Russia, as current options for using credit cards and mobile payments are limited [12].