China has announced the lifting of the two-year Covid visa ban on Indian professionals. This has paved the way for the return of alienated Indian businessmen and their families. However, Indians hoped that China would also take a decision about starting air travel. But China has not yet announced plans to open flight facilities between the two countries.
China is now considering the appeal of Indian students studying there. These Indian people have expressed their desire to resume studies in colleges and universities. More than 12,000 Indian students have expressed their desire to return. Their details have been sent to the Chinese government on behalf of India.
The Chinese Embassy in India on Monday announced changes in its COVID visa policy after two years. Foreign nationals and students were forbidden to return to China with their families for more than two years due to the COVID visa policy. This is being considered as good news for Indians who are not able to go to China from 2020.
It should be noted that several Indian professionals based in China had last month urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to pressurize Beijing to allow their stranded families to return. However, before that during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India in March, Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar had talked about starting the visa.
However, China has not yet announced plans to open flight facilities between the two countries. At present, only diplomats travel between the two countries on expensive third country flight routes. However, China’s visa announcement has raised hopes that flight services between the two countries may also resume soon. China has in recent months allowed students from some friendly countries such as Pakistan, Thailand, the Solomon Islands and more recently Sri Lanka to return.