Russia and China have recently introduced visa reforms that are expected to boost people-to-people exchanges — and possibly even cross-border marriages. A Russian official has suggested that these changes could lead to a surge in Chinese men marrying Russian women, driven by demographic imbalances in both countries.
According to official data, China has 35 million more men than women, while Russia has around 10 million more women than men, as reported by The Timesof London. Speaking to the Russian news outlet Gazeta.ru, Svetlana Zhurova, Deputy Chairwoman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, noted this gender disparity could push some Chinese men to look for spouses abroad — particularly in Russia.
“There are significantly more men than women in China, which leads to difficulties in starting families. Therefore, we can expect that some of them will seek life partners in Russia,” Zhurova said.
However, such unions may face cultural and social resistance. Foreign marriages remain a sensitive topic in China due to issues of national and ethnic pride, The Timespointed out. Moreover, Russian women who seek foreign partners have traditionally preferred Western men, raising questions about their openness to relationships with Chinese suitors.
In a related development, China rolled out a new visa-free policy on Monday, allowing Russian nationals to stay in China for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, and transit. In response, Russian media report that President Vladimir Putin is considering reciprocating with visa-free entry for Chinese citizens.
Zhurova also highlighted a shift in Russian travel preferences. She noted that more Russians are showing interest in vacationing in southern China, as opposed to traditional destinations like Egypt or Turkey.
“Interest among our compatriots is growing [in China]… It’s a destination that still remains exotic for many, but thanks to visa facilitation, it’s becoming more accessible,” she said.
