Chinese and Uzbek authorities have finalised plans for a mutual visa waiver, allowing citizens from both countries to travel between them for stays of up to 30 days visa-free. The new regime is set to come into force from 1 June 2025.
Announced by the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the agreement has been months in the making since December 1, 2024, when officials signed an understanding on the subject. Having now passed through all the necessary approvals, the plan is about to become reality.
Exclusions apply to Hong Kong and Macau
The new rules permit Chinese and Uzbeck nationals to enter, exit, or transit through the other country’s territory without a visa. It applies to individual stays of up to 30 days, and can be used for multiple trips as long as they do not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.
Exclusions however do apply. Travel for the purposes of employment, media-related activities, study, or activities that require official authorisation from either country, is not covered by the arrangement. What’s more, the deal does not permit visits to China’s Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Had a fruitful meeting with the Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China H.E. Wang Yi today in Almaty.
— Bakhtiyor Saidov 🇺🇿 (@FM_Saidov) April 25, 2025
We had an open and forward-looking exchange on deepening the Uzbekistan–China all-weather comprehensive strategic… pic.twitter.com/Y2uX7QGybA
Uzbek push on Chinese tourism
The visa deal follows an Uzbek push on Chinese tourism. 2024 saw the Tourism Year of Uzbekistan launched in China, promoting the landlocked, central Asian country as a destination and forging industry ties.
With up to 100 direct flights between China and Uzbekistan per week and a visa-waiver now in place, and bureaucratic barriers to travel reduced, both countries are hoping for a boost to their tourism revenues.
📈In the past 3 years, China has overtaken Russia as Uzbekistan’s top import source. While imports from Russia continue to grow, Beijing now leads by a $3.5B margin, signifying shifting trade dynamics in Central Asia. pic.twitter.com/PTFnHmd0mw
— Caspian Policy Center (CPC) (@caspiancenter) May 15, 2025
Ancient Silk Road ties
Uzbekistan, located on the ancient Silk Road, has a relationship going back over a thousand years with China, so communication, trade and cultural exchanges are not new between them.
Bobirjon Yakhyaev, Counsellor and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China, said his country has placed great emphasis on developing a fruitful relationship with his host country, which represents the largest travel market in the world. Over 74,300 Chinese tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2024, up from 42,470 in the previous year – growth of 75%.
Neighbouring Kazakhstan already has a visa-free travel deal in place with China, implemented on November 10, 2023 and giving similar travel permissions for tourism, medical reasons or business.
