Another positive move of the restoration of bilateral relations that had been strained over the years in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the reinstatement of the tourist visa services of China citizens by its embassies and consulates across the globe. This is four months after the initial move by India to issue tourist visas to the Chinese nationals in July.
In the year 2020, tourist visas of Chinese travellers had been suspended after the LAC standoff which spilled over to a violent conflict in the Galwan Valley which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers. The incident had a huge toll on bilateral relationships taking them to the lowest in the decades.
A person closely involved in that issue claims that Indian diplomatic missions around the world just quietly started to process the applications to get tourist visas of Chinese citizens earlier this week. Even though this has not been publicly announced, the decision is indicative of the continuous attempt by both nations to restore trust and the renewal of people-to-people interactions.
In recent months, India and China have settled on a number of people-centric measures that would stabilise the relations. The biggest progressive step was made in October when direct flights between the two countries were reinstated, having been canceled since the beginning of 2020. Also, both parties came to an agreement to restart Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage to religious places in Tibet, beginning next summer. There are also moves to ease the visa processing of the business travellers, students, and other groups.
In July, Indian missions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong started issuing tourist visas again and this was the first step towards visa restoration. The recent enlargement enables China citizens to apply in any foreign Indian mission across the globe.
There were also cultural and commemorative events in embassies and consulates to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The authorities point out that these slow measures are to restore trust and deepen human-to-human interactions.
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