Putin: China's visa-free system for Russian citizens came unexpected to us

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Moscow did not expect China's decision to implement a visa-free system for Russian citizens, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"First of all, I'd like to say that the decision of the political leadership - clearly, this decision has been made on the political level, that of the political leadership of China - on visa-free travels of citizens of the Russian Federation to the People's Republic of China came unexpected to us. We did not know about that, which made it even more pleasing," Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum.

"Indeed, this is a token of friendship highly appreciated by us. Of course, it will promote a rather steep increase in mutual visits, better business climate and, naturally, rapprochement between the two countries - this is an obvious thing, absolutely obvious," Putin said.

The visa-free system spares travelers bureaucratic procedures, Putin said. "You can just hop on a plane and go. This is it, no bureaucracy," he said.

"Definitely, this will promote rapprochement between the two countries. Of course, we will mirror this gesture of friendship and act likewise," Putin said.