China on Monday said it plans to allow some foreign students with “genuine needs” to return to the country, who have been out of their homes for nearly two years because of China’s COVID visa restrictions.
Stranded in the country. The announcement comes amid reports that Beijing has issued visas to some Pakistani students.
“On the basis of ensuring safety, we will make arrangements for the return of a small number of foreign students to China in view of the changing international situation of the epidemic and the real needs of students,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here. are coordinating.”
However, he did not elaborate on the criteria for “actual needs”.
Responding to questions that the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has started issuing visas to Pakistani students, he said, “The concerned students should strictly follow the epidemic prevention protocol of China.”
More than 28,000 Pakistani students have been stranded in their country for almost two years due to the ban. Zhao did not deny reports of visas being granted to Pakistani students, but did not comment about allowing 23,000 Indian students. Most of them were studying medicine in China.
Last month, China promised to work for the “early return” of more than 23,000 Indian students from India and assured New Delhi that they would not be “discriminated” in any way as they resume their studies. Getting started is not a “political issue”.
