Govt speeds up visa for Chinese professionals

Processing time less than 1 month now; China sees ‘positive action’

- NIKUNJ OHRI & SHIVANGI ACHARYA

INDIA HAS CUT red tape to speed business visas for Chinese professionals, two officials said, a major step to boost ties between the two countries and end chronic delays that cost output worth billions of dollars because of scarce technicians.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautiously rekindles ties with Beijing in the face of punishing US tariffs, the officials said New Delhi dropped a layer of bureaucratic scrutiny and shortened visa approval times to less than a month.

India had blocked virtually all Chinese visits after the Eastern Ladakh clashes in mid-2020, widening its vetting of business visas beyond the home and foreign ministries.