Putin Offers Xi Jinping Unlimited Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens to Russia

During a bilateral meeting held outside the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Biskek, Kyrgyzstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an offer to Chinese President Xi Jinping to grant Chinese citizens unlimited visa-free entry into Russia. The proposal was presented as a potential benefit for China, with Putin stating, 'If Beijing considers it useful.' The meeting took place on August 31, 2026, and was reported by Infobae. Infobae noted that the offer was part of broader diplomatic efforts between the two nations. Lenta also reported the event, emphasizing Putin's readiness to make the visa-free policy with China permanent, though without additional details. The two sources agree on the key facts but differ in the level of specificity provided.