India, since a long period, has been raising the issue related to nearly 22000 Indian students who were studying in various Chinese universities before Covid-19 broke out in China and rest part of the world.
New Delhi: In a major development on the front of India-China relationship, India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals residing in the country. The global airlines body International Air Transport Association (IATA) told its member carriers on April 20.
India, since a long period, has been raising the issues related to nearly 22000 Indian students who were studying in various Chinese universities before Covid-19 broke out in China and rest part of the world. The students had no option than leaving their study and returning to India due to Covid restrictions. These students are unable to attend physical classes in their respective universities as China has yet to allow them enter in the country.
“Tourist visas issued to nationals of China (People’s Republic) are no longer valid,” said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a circular issued on April 20 regarding India. It has further said that nationals of Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal; passengers with a residence permit issued by India; passengers with visa or an e-visa issued by India; passengers with an overseas citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet; passengers with a persons of Indian origin (PIO) card; and passengers with a diplomatic passport are allowed to enter India.
Earlier, New Delhi has requested Beijing to adopt a “congenial stance” in the matter as the continuation of the strict restrictions is putting the academic careers of thousands of Indian students in jeopardy. India had referred that statement of Chine Foreign Ministry spokesperson in which he has said that the country was looking into the matter in a coordinated manner and that arrangements for allowing foreign students to return to China were being examined. Meanwhile, there was no categorical response given by the Chinese agencies about the return of Indian students. India, however, continued to urges China to consider entering of Indian students to peruse their study.
