Indian students walk on the Wuhan University campus. Photo: VCG

More than 1,300 Indian students have recently received Chinese visa, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong revealed on Tuesday in meeting with India's Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat.

The resumption for long-term student visas is an exciting news for Indian students to hear after a halt of more than two years due to COVID-19. More students are looking forward to receive the Chinese visa and resume their studies in an early date.

In their meeting, Liu told Rawat that progress has been made in China-India people-to-people exchanges as the two sides strive to overcome COVID-19 difficulties. More than 1,300 Indian students have received visa to resume their studies in China and also recently some 300 Indian businessmen took chartered flights to Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang Province. 

Rawat thanked China over the efforts. The two also exchanged views on bilateral ties, international situation and affairs of common concerns. Rawat wished for the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). 

Student visas has been open for applications from August 24 since the Chinese Embassy in India updated "Application Procedures and Material Requirements of China Visa," with the resumption of a total of 10 categories of visas, including business, family visit and student visas.

Indian news agency PTI said some 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine, have been stranded in India since December 2019 due to the pandemic.

It is unknown if Indian students would return by chartered flights. Over the past two years, direct flights between China and India have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. 

In August 9, a charter flight carrying 107 Indian businessmen arrived in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, and headed for Zhejiang's Yiwu, marking the first business charter flight from India to China. On September 23, some 130 Indian businessmen returned to China through the second charted flight. 

Global Times