Russians may get the opportunity to travel to China in their own cars. The Russian Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Chinese side on a bilateral agreement that will allow individuals to cross the border in private passenger cars. This was announced by the head of the department, Andrey Nikitin.
This refers to vehicles with a capacity of up to eight seats. It is planned to cross the border through five key checkpoints: "Zabaikalsk", "Starotsurukhaituisky", "Pogranichny", "Kraskino", and "Kani-Kurgan". According to Nikitin, these crossings are technically ready for such operations.
Currently, the main issue remains driving licenses. Russia and China are discussing how long Russian drivers will be able to drive cars in China, and Chinese drivers in Russia.
Interest in travel between the two countries is growing significantly. From January to May 2026, passenger traffic on flights between Russia and China increased by 48% compared to the same period last year, reaching 902,200 people. A year earlier, 608,600 passengers were transported between the countries during these five months.
The number of tourist trips is also growing. According to the FSB Border Guard Service, in Q1 2026, more than 690,000 Russians visited China – 54% more than in the same period a year earlier. More recent data is not yet publicly available.
At the same time, approximately 396,000 Chinese citizens entered Russia from China in the first three months of 2026. This is 23% more than in Q1 2025.
If the agreement is concluded, it will be possible to cross the border in private cars through the five designated checkpoints. However, the parties still need to agree on the validity period of driving licenses for motorists from both countries.