Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, with the two leaders discussing bilateral cooperation and international and regional issues amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. During the meeting, Putin proposed making visa-free travel between Russia and China permanent, signalling Moscow’s intention to further ease movement between the two countries as their strategic partnership continues to deepen. “We are ready to work together to make the visa-free regime permanent if the Chinese side considers this possible and useful,” Putin said during the talks.
Tourist flows rise 43 per cent
Putin said the visa-free arrangement had already produced a significant increase in travel, with tourist flows between Russia and China rising by 43 per cent during the first half of 2026. Russia introduced reciprocal visa-free entry for Chinese citizens in December 2025, allowing stays of up to 30 days. China had earlier introduced a similar arrangement for Russian citizens. The two sides subsequently extended visa-free entry rights until the end of 2027.
The Russian President’s proposal would effectively transform what has so far been a time-bound arrangement into a permanent feature of relations between Moscow and Beijing. The move is also aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and tourism as the two countries expand cooperation across trade, energy and other areas. Chinese tourism to Russia has risen sharply since visa requirements were relaxed.
Xi seeks stronger strategic ties
Xi, meanwhile, called for further strengthening China-Russia cooperation as uncertainty in the international environment increases.
The Chinese President said that under the strategic guidance of the two leaders and through joint efforts, the foundations of China-Russia relations would become stronger and their development steadier.
Xi said the international landscape was witnessing a significant increase in uncertain and unpredictable factors, but maintained that the global pursuit of peace, development and cooperation remained unchanged.
China, he said, was prepared to work with Russia and other countries to promote reforms in global governance and advance what Beijing describes as an equal and orderly multipolar world.
The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern during their bilateral meeting.
SCO provides diplomatic platform
The Putin-Xi meeting came as leaders from across Eurasia gathered in Bishkek for the SCO Summit, providing Moscow and Beijing another platform to underline their increasingly close strategic relationship.
Putin also held a separate bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Modi reiterated India’s position that hostilities in Ukraine should end and that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
For Russia and China, the Bishkek meeting reinforced a partnership that has expanded significantly in recent years across trade, energy, diplomacy and security.
Making visa-free travel permanent would add another dimension to that relationship by making cross-border movement easier and encouraging greater tourism and interaction between citizens of the two countries.