Govt says it has taken up issue of return of Indian students to China

Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan has said that the government has been taking up with the Chinese authorities the issue of the return of Indian students to China to resume their studies.

While many Indian students who study in China's universities have got stuck in India due to Covid-19 induced restrictions in China. Mainly, the medical students are worried about their future as they are only getting to attend online classes. 

Now, Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan has said a large number of Indian students had come back to India when all universities in China had closed down due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, China had restricted travel by suspending visa and residence permits from March 27, 2020. He said that the government of India has been taking up with the Chinese authorities the issue of the return of Indian students to China so that they can go back to their colleges and continue their studies.

"As per information available, approximately 20,000 Indian students were enrolled in various courses including clinical medicine courses in different Chinese universities at that time," he said, as reported by NDTV. 

"A large number of them returned to India when all universities in China had closed down," he added. 

"The government has been taking up the matter of the return of Indian students with the Chinese authorities both in New Delhi and through our Embassy in China. Regular updates have been given in this regard by the Embassy to the Indian students," Muraleedharan said.

MEA explores options to address the concern of affected students

He informed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had taken up the matter with the National Medical Commission and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to explore options to address the concerns of the affected students. 

"NMC has issued a circular on March 4 that states that in view of a large number of Indian medical students in foreign institutions who have not been able to complete internships, it has decided to accept applications from such foreign medical graduates to complete the remaining part of an internship in India," he added.

Muraleedharan said that the Chinese government has advised Chinese universities to maintain contact with foreign students and continue classes online.

Read more:

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