The bilateral visa waiver agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan came into force on June 1. At 7:01 a.m. local time, Flight CZ6030 from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, landed at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, marking the first direct flight to enjoy visa-free entry under the new policy.
Under the agreement, holders of valid Chinese service, ordinary service, and regular passports, as well as Uzbekistani regular passport holders, can enter, exit, or transit the other country without a visa for single stays of up to 30 days and cumulative stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. Travelers requiring stays exceeding 30 days or engaging in activities like work or study must still apply for the appropriate visa in advance.
Urumqi Tianshan International Airport currently operates three routes to Tashkent, Fergana, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, with approximately 18 passenger flights per week. Statistics from the Xinjiang Urumqi Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station show a significant surge in flights and passenger volumes to Central Asia. Since the start of this year, over 44,000 people have traveled between China and Uzbekistan, a 52% year-on-year increase, including 11,000 Uzbekistani travelers (up 38%), mostly for tourism and business. On the first day of this year’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the airport saw over 3,000出入境 passengers, a 98% jump from the previous year.
The visa waiver policy is set to significantly facilitate people-to-people exchanges, boosting bilateral trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges while injecting new momentum into the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Related Topics:
- Spokane International Airport Prepares for Record Summer Travel Season
- Record Summer Travel Expected at Spokane International Airport in 2025
- Kolkata Travel Agencies Unite to Boost Kashmir Tourism Despite Security
