With corona cases rising in cities like Shanghai, India on Thursday justified its decision not to issue visas to Chinese nationals and said China has also not issued visas to Indians since 2020.
Making New Delhi's stand clear, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here, “We are aware of the Covid situation in Chinese cities like Shanghai...Not the opportune time for resumption of issuance of tourist visas for China”.
He also said China has not issued visas to India and has suspended visa issuance to India since 2020. “It’s not the right time to discuss the issuance of tourist visas for China,” he said.
Bagchi made these observations when asked for his reaction to reports that India suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals after Beijing blocked the entry of around 22,000 Indian students studying in Chinese universities.
India was also awaiting a response from Beijing to its request for issuing visas to Indian students who have been facing difficulties.
This issue of the Indian students was discussed during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi last month.
Two days ago reports referring to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said India did not allow tourist visas to Chinese nationals. Experts believe that the visa row is the outcome of standoff between armies of the two countries at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh for the last two years.