China has started the process to facilitate the return of Indian students to China on a “need-assessed basis” by asking India to submit a list of students who really need to rejoin their classes there. More than 20,000 Indian students, who came back to India two years ago because of Covid, have been waiting for China’s approval to return.
Foreign minister S Jaishankar had requested his counterpart in a meeting last month to allow the Indian students to return. The Chinese foreign ministry said it is prepared the return of “some” Indian students.
“China understands that the number of Indian students is so large that it takes some time for the Indian side to collect the information. We have shared with the Indian sides the procedures and experience of other countries' students returning to China,” said the spokesperson. Indian students wanting to return to China should provide the necessary information by filling up a Google Form on the mission's website by May 8, the Indian embassy in Beijing said in a press release.
“Following the meeting of External Affairs Minister of India, Dr S Jaishankar with the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, the Chinese side has expressed its willingness to consider facilitating the return of Indian students to China on a need-assessed basis,” the Indian embassy said in a statement.
Asked about the timeline to permit the return of students, the Chinese spokesperson said the Chinese embassy in India and existing channels will work to facilitate and offer convenience to the students.
To another question whether China has provided any criteria to India to select students to return, he said, “I don't have the information about the specifics you asked but I am sure these details will be sorted out through communication through existing channels including the embassy so that we will actually deliver the good news. ”
