India suspends tourist visas issued to Chinese citizens: IATA
India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) gave this information on 20 April.
India has been raising with China the problems of about 22,000 Indian students registered in Chinese universities, these students are unable to go there and take classes. China has not yet allowed these students to come to the country.
In the year 2020, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, these students had to leave their studies midway and return to India. In an order issued on April 20 regarding India, IATA said, ‘Tourist visas issued to citizens of China (People’s Republic) are no longer valid.’
It states that the following travelers are allowed to enter India: citizens of Bhutan, citizens of India, Maldives and Nepal, travelers with residence permit issued by India, travelers with visa or e-visa issued by India, OCI card or Passengers with Booklet, Passengers with Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card, and Passengers with Diplomatic Passport.
The IATA also said that tourist visas with a validity of ten years are no longer valid. IATA is a global airline body with approximately 290 members, comprising 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 a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry 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.
Bagchi said, ‘But let me be clear 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 position in the interest of our students. Will keep saying that he should facilitate the students to return to China at the earliest so that Indian students can continue their studies.
He said that during a meeting in Dushanbe in September last year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had also raised this issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
