China non-committal to reciprocate PM Narendra Modi's gesture on extending e-visas

BEIJING: China today welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to grant e-visas to Chinese tourists saying the move will facilitate people-to-people exchanges, but remained non-committal to reciprocate the gesture, which was earlier opposed by Indian intelligence agencies. Asked if China would reciprocate the gesture, Hong said: "China is willing to make joint efforts with India under the Chinese laws and regulations so as to facilitate the exchanges of China and Indian people and seek for new development." On May 15, Modi announced the facility to Chinese tourists visiting India despite strong opposition from Home Ministry and security agencies over concerns that it could be misused. Less than two lakh Chinese tourists visited India last year against the more than six lakh Indian visitors to China.