India has removed official barriers to issuing business visas to Chinese professionals more quickly.
According to a report by the British news agency Reuters, officials said the move is part of efforts to improve relations between the two Asian powers and to prevent billions of dollars in losses caused by a shortage of technical experts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cautiously begun to restore relations with China despite U.S. tariff pressure. According to officials, New Delhi has removed an entire bureaucratic stage from the visa approval process, and visas are now being issued in less than a month.
Officials on both sides confirmed this development to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
It is worth noting that after the 2020 clashes on the Himalayan border, India had halted almost all visits by Chinese citizens and had also tightened scrutiny of business visas.
One official said that visa-related issues are now “completely resolved.”
He said, “We have removed that additional administrative scrutiny, and business visas are being processed within four weeks.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the national policy think tank did not respond to requests for comment.
Following this development, China’s foreign ministry said that it has taken note of India’s “positive step,” which is important for strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China will continue consultations with India to increase engagement and facilitate exchanges.
According to the think tank Observer Research Foundation, strict scrutiny caused India’s electronics industry a loss of 15 billion dollars over four years, because machinery for mobile phone manufacturing that comes from China could not arrive on time.
Last year, Reuters reported that major Chinese companies, including Xiaomi, faced severe difficulties in obtaining visas for their staff.
Industry officials said that the visa restrictions affected not only the electronics industry but also the solar energy sector, where the lack of skilled personnel halted work.
The announcement about removing official barriers came immediately after Modi’s recent visit to China — his first in seven years — where he met President Xi Jinping and discussed ways to improve relations.
Later, direct flights between the two countries were also restored, which had been suspended since 2020.
The recommendation to remove the restrictions came from a high-level committee headed by former cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, who is now a member of a government think tank. The committee has also suggested easing investment restrictions for China to boost foreign investor confidence.
Pankaj Mohindroo, the head of the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association, said, “We welcome the government’s decision to speed up visa approval for experts from neighboring countries. It is a sign of cooperation and proof that our recommendations have been accepted.”
He said these measures come at a time when India is accelerating the production of various products, from fully finished goods to components.
Warmer relations with China after U.S. tariff policy
The improvement in India-China relations has come at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tax on Indian goods, while an additional 25% tax has been imposed on the purchase of Russian oil.
After this, India restructured its diplomatic strategy — improving ties with China, increasing cooperation with Russia, and continuing trade-deal talks with Washington.
The Modi government is focusing on creating a favorable environment for foreign investment, which also includes making it easier to do business with China.
Some time ago, India also relaxed consumption tax and labor laws to attract foreign investors.
A second official said in the end, “We are cautiously easing some restrictions related to China, and we hope this will improve the overall business environment.”
