Vladimir Putin: Russia ready to make visa-free travel with China permanent

Russia is ready to work towards making the existing visa-free regime with China permanent. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with President of China Xi Jinping in Bishkek ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, according to the Kremlin website.

It is clear that the 30-day visa-free arrangement has been facilitating business-to-business and people-to-people contacts. You announced this initiative a year ago, on September 2, during our meeting in Beijing. And we supported it. As of today, this modality is set to remain in force until the end of 2027. It had an immediate effect since tourist flows surged by 43 per cent in the first six months. We stand ready to work together on transforming the visa-free framework into a permanent arrangement, should China deem this feasible and advisable

Vladimir Putin

President of Russia

The President of Russia also noted the development of economic cooperation between the countries. According to him, Moscow and Beijing are implementing major projects in energy, industry, space, transport and logistics. The first regular service by a Chinese container ship along the Northern Sea Route was launched in mid-August, while mutual agricultural exports increased by 34 per cent.

The two sides paid particular attention to artificial intelligence. Putin said that Russia had supported China's initiative to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation.

Putin also said that Moscow and Beijing continue to coordinate their positions at international platforms, including the United Nations (UN), BRICS, the Group of Twenty (G20), as well as formats involving ASEAN countries. He also reaffirmed Russia's readiness to support China's chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

The foundation of our bilateral relations will only grow stronger, and we will confidently move forward to a better future. […] The striving of nations on our planet for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remains unchanged. The vital mission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is to maintain stability and promote the development of our region

Xi Jinping

President of the People’s Republic of China

Vladimir Putin described the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China as a "model of interstate relations". He noted that the foundations of cooperation are traditions of friendship, respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit.

In addition, the Russian leader met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports ANI, a TV BRICS partner. During the conversation, they discussed bilateral cooperation and the current international agenda.

"We are eager to welcome you to India for the BRICS Summit in New Delhi this September," Prime Minister Modi said, adding that the visit would "further strengthen India-Russia relations".

The President of Russia cited trade figures. In the first half of 2026, trade turnover between the countries increased by 2.6 per cent. In addition, Putin noted positive dynamics in education. "India is among the leading countries in terms of the number of students studying in Russia. Over the past few years, this figure has increased sevenfold and currently stands at 40,000", the Russian President added.

On the eve of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also held a bilateral meeting, reports ANI. Pezeshkian called the SCO Summit a symbol of independent voices in a world where some institutions seek to create a single space and stressed the importance of joining efforts to achieve economic goals and ensure security.

We live in a region whose destiny, history, and civilisation go back thousands of years, and we have always been in communication, coexistence, and growth with each other. Therefore, peace, security, economy, and civilisation have arisen from this land, and it is natural that we should strive to expand this trend in today's world

Masoud Pezeshkian

President of Iran

Kyrgyzstan is hosting the SCO Summit, marking the organisation's 25th anniversary. The meeting of the Council of Heads of State will take place on 1 September, while high-level events are scheduled for 31 August – 1 September. The heads of state will discuss current issues on the international and regional agenda, as well as prospects for cooperation in the political, trade and economic, transport and logistics, digital, environmental, and cultural and humanitarian spheres.