On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin announced that citizens of China will soon be able to visit Russia visa-free, following the recent decision by Beijing to eliminate visa requirements for Russian travelers.

Since September, Russians have had the opportunity to travel to China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, a part of a year-long trial program that Putin referred to as a “friendly gesture.” At that time, he vowed that Russia would follow suit.

While hosting Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Kremlin on Tuesday, Putin reiterated this commitment, stating during a televised speech that “reciprocal measures will soon be implemented for residents of the People’s Republic of China visiting Russia.”

He expressed optimism about the relationship, remarking, “This will undeniably lead to a significant and positive breakthrough in the progress of our relations,” although he did not provide a specific timeline for when visa requirements for Chinese nationals would be lifted.

Currently, Russia and China maintain a mutual visa-free agreement for group tours, which was temporarily suspended when China closed its borders for nearly three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, last year, China permitted Russian travelers in transit to remain for up to 10 days without a visa.

Putin’s September announcement regarding the easing of visa requirements for Chinese nationals sparked a notable increase in hotel and flight inquiries from Chinese tourists contemplating trips to Russia as early as October, in anticipation of the promised visa-free entry.