Putin signs law ratifying protocol on travel facilitation between Russia and China

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying a protocol that introduces amendments to the agreement between the governments of Russia and China on facilitating travel for citizens, according to the official legal information portal.

The protocol, which was signed in Moscow on August 21, 2024, aims to address issues related to cross-border transportation and ease travel restrictions for specific categories of Russian citizens involved in international freight and passenger transport, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

According to the explanatory note, road transportation between Russia and China has been actively developing in recent years. Since the practical implementation of the bilateral agreement between the Russian and Chinese governments, signed on June 8, 2018, there has been a growing demand for cross-border transportation beyond just the regions directly bordering China. While traditional road transport has been a key mode of bilateral trade, more transport operators from across Russia have shown interest in expanding shipments to China.

The note highlights that the most significant increase in freight transportation to China has come from Russia’s central and Ural regions. This reflects the broader trend of economic integration and trade expansion between the two countries.

Despite the growing demand, Russian transport operators face significant obstacles due to visa restrictions. Under the current rules, Chinese "C" category visas — issued to crew members of international transport vehicles — are not available to transport operators, drivers, and other personnel from Russian regions that do not share a direct border with China. This restriction has been a major limiting factor in the expansion of transport services and has particularly affected freight carriers from Russia’s interior regions.

According to the agreement in force, multiple-entry visas can only be issued to drivers engaged in servicing cross-border trade between Russia and China. Additionally, these visas require official letters from representatives of the foreign ministries of both countries in their respective border regions.

In response to these challenges, the protocol introduces amendments to simplify the visa process for specific categories of Russian citizens involved in transportation between Russia and China. The proposed changes aim to create a broader framework for issuing visas, allowing a wider range of transport personnel to obtain the necessary documentation.

Under the amended agreement, the simplified visa regime will no longer be limited only to those involved in cross-border trade. Instead, it will extend to a broader group of individuals engaged in transportation across the Russia-China border. This includes:

• Drivers

• Members of transport crews

• Freight forwarders

• Interpreters

These amendments are expected to facilitate smoother logistics operations, enhance trade between the two countries, and address the long-standing issue of visa accessibility for Russian transport companies operating in China.

By Tamilla Hasanova