China open to talks on permanent visa-free scheme with Russia

Beijing is willing to "maintain communication" with Moscow regarding discussions on establishing a permanent visa-free scheme for citizens of China and Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudenko Andrey Yurevich had said that Russia and China are discussing the establishment of a permanent visa-free scheme for their citizens.

In response, Mao said, "Since the mutual visa-free arrangement between China and Russia was reached, it has played a positive role in facilitating people-to-people exchanges and promoting cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries."

"We are willing to maintain communication with the Russian side," she said at a daily news briefing in Beijing.