Putin signs law ratifying protocol to Russian-Chinese intergovernmental agreement on easing travel

MOSCOW. April 1 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into a law a bill ratifying the protocol that amends the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental agreement on easing travel, materials on the official website of legal information say.

The protocol was signed in Moscow on August 21, 2024.

The explanatory note said motor traffic between Russia and China has been actively developing in recent years.

Since the start of the implementation of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental agreement dated June 8, 2018, road carriers from across Russia have become interested in launching service to China, in addition to the traditional transport links between the two countries' border territories. Cargo transportation from central Russia and the Urals to China has been growing the most, the explanatory note said.

However, road carriers, drivers and other parties from Russia's regions not bordering China have been unable to obtain Chinese C visas (issued to transborder vehicle crews), which has been impeding cargo transportation.

The agreement allows issuing multi-entry visas only to drivers servicing border trade between Russia and China based on formal letters from offices of the two foreign ministries in border territories.

Therefore, the agreement is being amended to introduce a facilitated visa system for certain categories of citizens. The system will apply to a broader range of constituent territories, compared to the current agreement, including those transporting cargo across the Russian-Chinese state border, rather than servicing only border trade, drivers, vehicle crews, forwarders and interpreters.