Russia, China should take further steps towards mutual lifting of visa requirements - Russian Federation Council speaker

BEIJING. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Russia and China will hopefully continue taking steps with regard to lifting visa requirements for citizens of the two countries, Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said, adding that Moscow is ready for that.

"The more tourist exchanges we have, the firmer the foundation of our friendship with China will be. We'll hope that this process will continue and our citizens will be very pleased," Matviyenko told journalists in Beijing after a meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji.

"You know that visa-free travel between Russia and China has been extended until January 1, 2027, and we have discussed, have only discussed so far, the issue of visa-free travel in general between our countries. Russia is at least ready for that. We'll see how our Foreign Ministries continue holding these negotiations," she said.

Humanitarian, cultural and educational ties are no less important that bilateral successes in the economy, Matviyenko said.