Moscow and Beijing Link Up to Talk Tourism After Visa-Free Extension

Tourism officials from Russia and China are set to meet via video bridge on July 20 to hash out the future of travel between the two nations, just days after President Vladimir Putin extended visa-free entry for Chinese citizens through the end of 2027. The move, announced by presidential decree, is expected to give bilateral tourism a major shot in the arm — and the virtual gathering aims to turn that potential into concrete plans.

On the Moscow side, Maria Pasuginova, head of the Asia, CIS and Latin America desk at the Moscow City Tourism Committee, will join Anastasia Pavlova, an expert in cultural and tourism cooperation from the Russian State University for the Humanities. From Beijing, Professor Yan Xuyang, former director of the Tourism Institute at Beijing Union University, and Zhang Huiying, assistant director of the Institute of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University and a board member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), will bring their expertise. The agenda centers on how the visa-free policy can deepen cultural exchange and strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Organised by the Centre for Broadcasting to Europe and Asia under China’s Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (People’s Pictorial Press), the event is expected to highlight new opportunities for travel agencies, hotels and tour operators on both sides. With visa-free travel now locked in for nearly two more years, industry insiders see a clear runway for growth — especially as both nations work to rebuild inbound tourism volumes. Media wishing to cover the session must pre-register at accreditation@ria.ru and present a passport and valid editorial ID on site. The venue is at 4 Zubovsky Boulevard in Moscow, and organisers reserve the right to deny accreditation without explanation.