China has started the process for the return of Indian students stuck back home due to the COVID 19 visa restrictions and the first batch may arrive soon, raising hopes for the thousands of students waiting to join their colleges in this country.
We are working intensively for the return of foreign students to China and this process for Indian students return has begun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told media briefing here when asked about posts by some Chinese diplomats about the opening of a new visa policy for all foreign students in China.
Wang said that we believe that the return of the first batch of Indian students will be very soon and that we will continue to pursue it with relevant work while ensuring the safety against COVID.
Asked at what stage is the process of the list provided by the Indian Embassy here about Indian students wanting to return, he said the relevant information will be released soon. China is currently processing hundreds of Indian students who want to return to the country to join their colleges.
Over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine, are stuck back home due to COVID visa restrictions.
India has submitted a list of hundreds of students after China sought the names of those who want to return immediately to pursue their studies.
Some students from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia and several other countries have arrived on boardered flights in the past few weeks.
China has yet to work out the openings of flights between the two countries, despite the fact that they allow flights from different countries. The flights between India and China, which were stopped at the height of the coronaviruses epidemic two years ago, are still suspended.
Officials say the two countries are in talks to restore limited flights.