New Delhi: China on Monday announced plans to issue visas to hundreds of Indian students stranded at home for over two years due to Beijing’s strict COVID restrictions, besides various categories of travel permits for Indians including business visas.
“Warmest congrats to #Indian #students! Your patience proves worthwhile. I can really share your excitement & happiness. Welcome back to #China!” Ji Rong, Counsellor, Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China tweeted.
Warmest congrats to #Indian #students! Your patience proves worthwhile. I can really share your excitement & happiness. Welcome back to #China!🌹https://t.co/DKVdjVmQWP pic.twitter.com/ZHIQwIJaU1
— Ji Rong嵇蓉 (@JiRongMFA) August 22, 2022
Her tweet cited a detailed announcement by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi announcing the opening of visas for students, businessmen, and families of those working in China. As per the announcement, X1-Visa will be issued to students who intend to go to China to pursue long-term study for higher academic education, including newly-enrolled students and students who return to China to resume their studies. Over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine, are reportedly stuck back home due to COVID visa restrictions.
India had presented a list of several hundred students after China looked for the names of those needing to return promptly to pursue their studies.
Monday’s declaration posted on the site of the Chinese Embassy in Delhi said student visas will be given to the newly-enrolled students and the old students who couldn’t travel to China due to COVID visa bans.
During the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India in March, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar discussed starting the visa. China agreed to allow some Indian students to return after Jaishankar’s personal intervention.
The Indian government also took a tough stand on China not providing visas to students. In April, the government suspended the tourist visas of Chinese citizens.
According to a report, there are about 22,000 Indian students in the Chinese university. But due to the non-availability of visas, studies were stopped. There have been frequent complaints that students and their families are suffering from mental stress and financial losses.
(Vinayak)
