MEA cites Covid cases to defend denial of tourist visas to Chinese

NEW DELHI: India defended its decision to not resume tourist or e-tourist visa for Chinese nationals saying it’s not “an opportune moment” to talk about resumption of issuance of tourist visas given the pandemic situation in Chinese cities.
TOI had reported on April 24 that India had not resumed tourist visas for China and that Beijing, since November 2020, had not been issuing any type of visa to Indian nationals except diplomatic and official ones. India is still giving business, employment, diplomatic and official visas to the Chinese.
“You’re all aware of the Covid situation in Chinese cities like Shanghai. I don’t think this is an opportune moment to discuss the resumption of issuance of tourist visas from China. You’re also aware that China has suspended issue of most types of visas to Indians since November 2020,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The government also expressed hope that Beijing will soon allow Indian students to return to China. Close to 23,000 Indian students who had to return because of Covid are awaiting approval from Beijing to rejoin classes in China.
Foreign minister S Jaishankar had taken up the issue with his counterpart Wang Yi when the latter was here last month. “We have requested them to look at the difficulties that students in India are facing,” Bagchi said.