New Delhi: India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals. Global airlines body IATA informed its member carriers about this on 20 April. India continues to raise concerns with China about 22,000 Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities feeling unable to return to attend physical classes for China’s sake. The neighboring country is still not ready to take them back to the country.
These students had to leave their studies in China and move to India when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020. In a circular issued on April 20 regarding India, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, ‘Tourist visas issued to citizens of China (People’s Republic) are no longer valid.’
Now these people will be able to get entry in India
The following travelers are allowed to enter India: citizens of Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal, travelers with residence permit issued by India, visa or e-visa issued by India, foreign nationals of India (OCI) ) passengers with cards or booklets, passengers with Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards and passengers with diplomatic passports.’
IATA also said that tourist visas with a validity of 10 years are no longer valid. The IATA is a global airline body with approximately 290 members, which comprise more than 80 percent of global air traffic.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on March 17 that India has urged Beijing to take an “amicable stand” in the matter as the continuation of strict restrictions is putting the academic careers of thousands of Indian students at risk.
Bagchi said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman had said on February 8 that China was looking into the matter in a coordinated manner and that arrangements for allowing foreign students to return to China were being investigated. But let me clarify that till date the Chinese side has not given any clear response regarding the return of Indian students. We will continue to urge the Chinese side to take a favorable stance in the interest of our students and that they facilitate early return to China so that our students can continue their studies.
He said during a meeting in Dushanbe in September last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also raised the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two foreign ministers held talks in the Tajik capital city on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
first published:April 24, 2022, 3:55 p.m.
