India has quietly slashed processing time for Chinese business visas to under one month by scrapping mandatory administrative security vetting, multiple government sources confirmed on Thursday.

Two senior officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that layers of inter-ministry clearance previously required for Chinese nationals have been eliminated. “We have removed the layer of administrative vetting and are processing the business visas within four weeks,” one official stated, marking one of the fastest turnaround times ever offered to Chinese corporate executives.

The decision comes against the backdrop of thawing bilateral ties following the October 2024 disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control and growing alarm over sweeping new US tariffs that threaten to disrupt global supply chains. With Washington imposing punitive duties of up to 104 per cent on Chinese goods, Indian industry is aggressively courting manufacturers looking to diversify away from China-dependent routes.

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Beijing responded swiftly and positively. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun welcomed India’s “positive action” to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, stating, “China is willing to maintain communication and consultation with India to continuously enhance the level of facilitation.” The statement reflects rare public alignment between the two Asian giants on economic cooperation.

Industry bodies and diplomats view the visa relaxation as a strategic pivot to attract billions in potential Chinese investment into electronics, renewable energy, and automotive component manufacturing at a time when global firms are scrambling to build “China-plus-one” strategies. The move is expected to significantly boost participation of Chinese firms in upcoming trade expositions and direct investment roadshows across India.

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