NEW DELHI, Jan 9: The Chinese government has denied permission to Indian students studying in Chinese universities from attending classes physically and has advised them to continue to learn through online classes.
The Chinese government has also denied permission to the Indian authorities to operate any chartered flights between Indian and Chinese cities in the wake of reinforced Covid-19 restrictions. The Indian Embassy in China said it took up the matter with Chinese authorities but there was no positive result.
Over 23,000 Indians study in Chinese universities, mostly the medical stream. Most of them are stuck in India as they await permission for their colleges to reopen. But as of now, they will have to continue studying online, the Chinese authorities said.
The first Covid-19 cases reported in India on January 30 was a student from Kerala who returned from Wuhan
“In fact, with reports of resurgence of COVID-19 cases in China, authorities have further reinforced epidemic controls and restrictions on travel and entry into China. The suspension of visas of Indian nationals issued before November 2, 2020 is an instance of these enhanced controls,” the statement issued by the embassy said.
“Chinese authorities have also denied permission for the operation of any chartered flights between India and China, citing their strict control measures,” the Embassy said.
“While the Embassy continues to follow this issue keenly, it has been repeatedly advised by Chinese authorities that the restrictions in place are not likely to be relaxed in the coming months and that students studying in China should be advised accordingly with respect to their studies for the next semester, which are likely to continue only through online means,” the statement said.
“While the Embassy is aware of the difficulty of undertaking courses in medicine in online format, Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities are advised to take note of the restrictions currently in place and make appropriate arrangements for continuing their education,” it said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
