Indian students are permitted to return to China on a conditional basis after two years

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 29, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

Digital Desk: Indian students who
were forced to leave China two years ago due to the emergence of the Covid-19
epidemic are now permitted to return and complete their education, according to
the Indian Embassy in China. The decision follows a meeting on March 22 between
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese colleague Wang Yi.

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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">This gives solace to thousands of Indian
students who have been left in the lurch as a result of the disturbance in
their academic journey. However, those acquainted with the situation stated
that this is not an open-ended procedure and that there is no certainty that
all students would be permitted to return to their classes according to the
process's restrictions.

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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">The students' return
will be assisted on a need-based basis, with the embassy compiling a list of
such students who must return to their colleges and institutions immediately.
The list will subsequently be distributed to the Chinese side for their
consideration.

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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">"Once the
information has been compiled, the Chinese side will confer with appropriate
Chinese departments to check the list and determine if the identified students
may go to China to finish the course. The coordinating procedure will be
completed in a timely way "The embassy issued a statement.

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mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#424242">"The Chinese side
has also indicated that qualified students must unconditionally comply with the
Covid-19 prevention measures and commit to shoulder all expenditures connected
to Covid-19 preventive measures on their own," the statement continued.

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On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs voiced worry
over the future of such students and stated that Indian authorities were in
contact with Chinese officials about the matter. Arindam Bagchi, spokeswoman
for the External Affairs Ministry, told a weekly media briefing that the Indian
side was worried about the students' condition, especially because there had
been reports of students from other nations being permitted back into China.