Upadted: 2022-06-09
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on June 9, 2022
Prasar Bharati: According to some messages circulating in few WeChat groups, few Indians got telephonic confirmation from Embassy of China in India that Chinese embassy will start accepting visa applications from 10th of this month. This has created anxiety among Indians who are waiting for Chinese visas. The Indian side also submitted to the Chinese side last month the list of Indian students who are waiting to return to China and other Indian families are also waiting for family reunions. Can you please confirm by when China is going to start accepting visa applications of Indians, both students as announced by China and also for non-students, whose families are waiting for their return?
Zhao Lijian: Thanks for your interest in Indian students’ return to China. I have answered relevant questions many times from journalists like you and your Indian colleagues. I can tell you that since the start of the pandemic, China has been facilitating the return to China of foreigners, including foreign students, who need to come to China while ensuring such return is COVID-secure. We have also been updating relevant visa and other policies in light of the situation.
As to your question, I would refer you and your colleagues to the Chinese Embassy in India.
Prasar Bharati: I’ll try to ask from Chinese embassy in Delhi, but they must have consulted with Chinese foreign ministry for such kind of decision to be taken. So can you confirm or deny the reports that Chinese embassy in Delhi is going to start accepting visa applications of Indians from tomorrow?
Zhao Lijian: I have made my point clear. Your question is very specific. I would refer you to the Chinese Embassy in India.
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(Source From: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202206/t20220609_10701010.html)
Updated: 2022-05-24
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 24, 2022
PTI: The foreign ministry previously announced that it hoped the Indian side can provide a list of Indian students who have the actual need to return to China. Understandably, that list has been submitted to the foreign ministry by the Indian side. Are we looking at any timeline about the entry back here? And also there are several Indian professionals working here who have been making requests both here and of course to the Indian foreign ministry about permitting the return of their stranded families back home, which is already over two years. Any progress can be expected on that?
Wang Wenbin: The Chinese side attaches importance to and understands the urgent desire of Indian students to return to China and resume their classes. We will make proper arrangements for Indian students to resume their studies in China on the premise of ensuring sound epidemic prevention and control. The Chinese side is working with the Indian side to handle specific matters and try to arrange for eligible students to return to China at an early date.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has provided convenience to foreign nationals with actual needs to return to China. Indian experts working in China can apply to relevant Chinese authorities for family reunions if they have such needs.
Anadolu Agency: Will there be similar arrangements for other countries?
Wang Wenbin: We take seriously the need of foreign students to return to China and resume their studies. We are in consultations with relevant countries to properly handle this issue in light of the development of the epidemic.
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(Source From: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202205/t20220524_10692075.html)
Updated: 2022-04-22
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on April 22, 2022
PTI: Sri Lanka yesterday announced that China has permitted or is permitting their students studying in China to return after they got stuck back home due to COVID protocols. It’s a welcome development. So does this opening for Sri Lankan students also open the door for the Indian students to return?
Zhao Lijian: We fully understand the feelings of international students including those in India, who are ardently looking forward to returning to China at an early date to continue their education. We will, based on the evolving situation, realities on the ground and science-based assessment, consider in a coordinated manner the matter of foreign students returning to their classes in China, and actively explore options and gradually arrange for those with actual need to return in an orderly fashion. The relevant work is well underway. We stand ready to work actively to ensure the healthy, safe and orderly cross-border flow of Chinese and foreign personnel on the basis of ensuring safety amid the pandemic.
Prasar Bharati: You said that due to the COVID-19 situations and based on the needs of students, China allows them to return. China allows Sri Lankan students and other students with the COVID pandemic going on to return. So in this context, would you like to elaborate or enlighten us is there any particular issue China sees in allowing Indian students to return at a time when China allowed students for many other countries to return?
Zhao Lijian: I just stated China’s principled position. You and Mr. Konda Varma from PTI are both very concerned about the studies of Indian students who hope to return to China soon. The Chinese side also hopes that they could return safely and resume their courses in China once the epidemic situation improves. These students have been attending courses online for nearly two years. We fully understand their feelings. We will consider in a coordinated manner the matter of foreign students returning to their classes in China based on the evolving situation and realities on the ground. We are actively exploring options and gradually making arrangements in an orderly fashion. I believe Indian students will be included in this process as soon as possible.
Prasar Bharati: You said online studies are going on for the last two years. But India’s National Medical Council has clearly said that online medical degrees will not be accepted and I’m sure many countries will not accept any online medical degrees. I’m not sure about whether China will accept online medical degrees. So in such a scenario when many students fear that their courses would be finished before they can come back to China, will China give them an additional year to complete their practical courses offline here in Chinese universities?
Zhao Lijian: I’d like to refer you to the Ministry of Education for the specific question.
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(Source From: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/202204/t20220422_10672302.html)
Updated: 2022-03-22
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on March 22, 2022
Prasar Bharati: This is regarding the return of international students to China. Students from Thailand have returned to China. Students from Solomon Islands have returned to China. China has issued visas to Pakistani students. My question is, when is China planning to issue visas to Indian students to return?
Wang Wenbin: The Chinese government attaches high importance to the issue of foreign students returning to China to pursue their studies. On the basis of ensuring sound epidemic prevention and control, it is coordinating arrangement for a small number of foreign students with actual needs to return to China in light of the changing international epidemic situation and the characteristics of the students’ majors.
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(Source From: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202203/t20220322_10654171.html)
Updated: 2022-03-20
Thai Students’ Returned to China, Some Pakistani Students Also Received Visas
China International Student Union (CISU) tweeted that a group of approved students on the Thai government list have reportedly been granted entry to Shanghai. At the time of writing, there have been no official announcements made by the Chinese authorities on the matter.
“We have received some reliable information that students from Thailand have arrived in Shanghai and are in quarantine,” tweeted CISU. “They are not able to speak out publicly for obvious reasons.”
CISU is an independent representative body of international students enrolled at universities and institutions in China.
Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang indicated last October that Thai students would be among the first to return to China.
“If the Chinese government is ready to allow hundreds of thousands of international students to return, Thai students will be among the first,” he was quoted saying by the Bangkok Post.
He added that the embassy has been in talks with Chinese agencies in charge of COVID-19 prevention measures along with education authorities in China in regards to the matter.
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(Source From: https://www.wentchina.com/newsflashes/10659.html)
Updated: 2022-03-14
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on March 14, 2022
Prasar Bharati: Regarding the return of international students, according to some reports, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad has issued visas to Pakistani students this month. Can you please confirm this? How many visas have been issued? And how were these students selected? What is the procedure they will have to follow when coming to China?
Zhao Lijian: I know you are keenly interested in the matter of Indian students returning to China for their studies. You have raised relevant questions here many times. We fully understand how you feel and the feelings of international students including those in India, who are looking eagerly forward to returning to China at an early date to continue their education. Amid the complicated and severe COVID-19 situation, the Chinese government attaches high importance to the issue of foreign students returning to China to pursue their studies. On the basis of ensuring safety, it is coordinating arrangement for a small number of foreign students with actual needs to return to China in light of the changing international epidemic situation and the characteristics of the students’ majors. The students concerned must strictly comply with China’s epidemic prevention protocols.
China has taken these reasonable measures with a view to protecting the health and safety of all Chinese citizens as well as foreign nationals in China. We hope and believe that we will have your understanding.
Follow-up: Is there a general policy of China regarding international students’ return, like on what basis visas will be issued to students from which country? How is it decided? Like today, you have not denied this report regrading Pakistani students. Can you please give us a little more clarity on the policy front?
Zhao Lijian: I already offered some explanation. If you would like to find out more about the specifics, we could try to get more information from the competent authorities. As I said, on the basis of ensuring safety, the Chinese government is coordinating arrangement for a small number of foreign students with actual needs to return to China in light of the changing international epidemic situation and the characteristics of the students’ majors. This is a process that takes time. Relevant work is under way.
Follow-up: So what are these needs? Only a few international students you said who have the need to return? What does this mean?
Zhao Lijian: You are also aware of the current COVID-19 situation. As the tsunami of Omicron variant continues to rage across the world, China has taken reasonable and necessary prevention and control measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of Chinese citizens, foreign nationals in China as well as a small number of international students coming to China. We will consider in a coordinated manner the matter of foreign students returning to their classes in China, actively explore feasible options and gradually arrange for those with the need to return in an orderly fashion.
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(Source From: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202203/t20220314_10651590.html)
Updated：2021-12-09
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on December 9, 2021
PTI: It’s good to see some kind of opening-up taking place on resumption of visas between India and China. An announcement has been posted for a limited visa facilitation by the Chinese embassy in India. Is this applicable to Indians working in China, including diplomats? Can you elaborate exactly how China plans to do this? There are thousands of students who were stranded there, besides the families of a number of Indians who are working here. Also does it herald a kind of an opening-up on flights resumption between the two countries even if it is on a very limited scale?
Wang Wenbin: To start with, according to relevant Chinese laws and regulations as well as international practice, the Chinese Embassy in India will issue biometric visas starting from December 10, 2021. This arrangement has been made in conformity to the international trend concerning visa and will improve the technological standard of visa issuance, and has to do with epidemic prevention and control protocols upon entry given the current development of COVID-19.
I would also like to stress that China applies quarantine measures equally to all inbound travelers, including its own citizens, based on the evolving situation, realities on the ground and science-based assessment. The travel of India’s necessary personnel to China has always been guaranteed.
The Chinese government also attaches high importance to the issue of foreign students coming to China for their studies. On the basis of ensuring safety amid COVID-19, we will consider in a coordinated manner arrangement for allowing foreign students to return to China for their studies. At the same time, we stand ready to work actively toward the healthy, safe and orderly cross-border flow of people on the basis of sound anti-epidemic protocols.
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(Source From: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202112/t20211209_10465086.html)
Updated：2021-12-04
China plans to allow Malaysian students to return and continue their studies -- Saifuddin
By Rosmalis Anuar
Dec. 4 -- China is planning to allow international students, including from Malaysia, to return to the country to resume their studies, said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
He said the matter was among those discussed in the inaugural meeting of the Malaysia-China High Level Committee on post-COVID-19 cooperation co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
According to Saifuddin, priority will be given to final year students and those who need to use laboratory facilities for fields of study involving research that cannot be done online.
“He (Wang Yi) stated that they have a list of countries of students studying in China and he informed me that Malaysia is among the highest on the list.
"He (Wang Yi) did not say when the (the process of return of) students can start, but from what he told me, they want the matter to be implemented as soon as possible," he told the Malaysian media, here, on Saturday.
Saifuddin said there were about 8,000 Malaysian students studying in China, but they had to return home when COVID-19 began to spread in the country last year.
He said Malaysia is currently still waiting for the Chinese government’s announcement on the conditions and processes regarding the return of students to their respective universities.
As most of them are private students without sponsors, he said the ministry will work with Malaysian alumni with information on the students.
"Since they have formed a network, so I offer help to facilitate the relationship with Malaysian students who are waiting to return to study in China," he said.
According to Saifuddin, the students are pursuing various fields of study including science and technology, language, and traditional medicine.
Apart from that, he said there are more than 100 Malaysian students who are still in China at this time.
Saifuddin is on a two-day official visit to China starting Friday, at the invitation of Wang Yi.
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(Source From: https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2030192)
Updated：2021-11-29
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on November 29, 2021
AFP: Is China planning to introduce any further border restrictions in response to the new coronavirus variant Omicron?
Wang Wenbin: China has noted the developments involving the new variant. Since COVID-19 broke out, China has been closely monitoring changes in the global pandemic situation. We put in place science-based and necessary prevention measures for those arriving in China and constantly adjust them according to the latest situation.
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(Source From: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/202111/t20211129_10458548.html)
Updated: 2021-11-23
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on November 23, 2021
Prasar Bharati: I have two questions on yesterday's China-ASEAN summit. My first question is about the Joint Statement issued after the talks. It says that both sides agreed to reaffirm the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and to advance cooperation in areas concerned in line with relevant purposes and principles. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2019 announced India's Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. I request for your comments on the view that India's Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative is complementary to ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. My second question is that the same statement mentions early resumption of entry into China by international students from ASEAN countries. Will China extend this facility of the entry to students from India and other South Asian countries as well?
Zhao Lijian: On your first question. China has noted India's Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. I want to stress that China always supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and supports ASEAN in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.
On your second question. The Chinese government always attaches high importance to the issue of foreign students coming to China for their studies. On the basis of ensuring safety amid COVID-19, we will consider in a coordinated manner arrangement for allowing foreign students to return to China for their studies. At the same time, I stress again that in light of the evolving epidemic situation, China will decide on prevention and control measures in a coordinated way based on scientific analysis. We stand ready to work actively towards the healthy, safe and orderly cross-border flow of people on the basis of sound epidemic measures.
Follow-up: From your response to my second question, it seems that China has not yet decided anything on the return of students from South Asia specifically. Does China have a timeline for the return?
Zhao Lijian: I would refer you to competent authorities for the specific question.
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(Source From: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1919568.shtml)
Updated: 2021-11-11
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 11, 2021
BBC: Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not brought under control 100 percent, many countries, including the US, have eased border restrictions and issued tourist visas to foreign travelers. Do you have any comment on that and when will China ease its border restricts on foreigners?
Wang Wenbin: Since the onset of COVID-19, by drawing on the practice of other countries and international customary practice, China adjusts its management measures on in-bound travelers in light of the changing epidemic situation in a science-based manner. The coronavirus is still spreading in many parts of the world with the emergence of many variants. China will continue taking prevention and control measures through scientific analysis in light of the evolving situation. On the basis of ensuring safety, China stands ready to work actively to foster healthy, safe and orderly personnel exchanges with other countries.
(Source From: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1919062.shtml)
Updated:2021-11-03
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 3, 2021
Prasar Bharati: Chambers of commerce from America and Australia have reported that local government authorities in Beijing and a few other Chinese cities are now issuing PU letters for the dependent family members of qualified foreign workers so that employees can relocate to China together with their family members. Can you confirm this? And will this benefit India?
Wang Wenbin: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has been providing visa facilitation to foreign nationals who are traveling to China for essential economic, trade, technological and emergency humanitarian purposes. Going forward, we will adjust relevant measures at appropriate points in light of the evolving COVID-19 situation on the basis of effective prevention of imported cases to actively foster a new arrangement for healthy, safe and orderly personnel exchange.
(Source From:https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1918568.shtml)
Updated:2021-10-27
On the afternoon of October 26, 2021, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 24th ASEAN-China Summit at the Great Hall of the People.
Li Keqiang said:
....
Sixth, we need to cement the foundation of popular support. We should manage the return of ASEAN students to China for school in a phased manner while ensuring COVID-related safety. China proposes setting up a China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting mechanism on education. We need to make the most of the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship and other platforms and make an additional contribution to the China-ASEAN Cooperation Fund.
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Source From:https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1917192.shtml
Updated:2021-09-28
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on September 28, 2021
Prasar Bharati: Yesterday, Indian medical students gathered at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi. These students are studying in Chinese universities and they are waiting for the return to China. Is there any consideration for the request?
Hua Chunying: I answered your question in details yesterday.
Given the ongoing spread of the coronavirus across the globe, the Chinese government has to adopt a series of management measures, which is timely adjusted in accordance with the evolving situation, in order to ensure the safe, healthy and orderly flow of Chinese and foreign travelers. I want to stress that China's entry prevention and control measures are applied to all inbound travelers, including its own citizens.
Updated:2021-09-27
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on September 27, 2021
Prasar Bharati: Last week, India's Ambassador to China Vikram Misri has said that India has continued to issue visas to Chinese businessmen to visit India despite current differences in the bilateral relations, but he expressed his disappointment over China's continued visa ban on Indian students, family members, businessmen, marine crew etc. and has termed it as unscientific approach. Do you have any comment or response to this, particularly to China's unscientific approach as mentioned?
Hua Chunying: Since the start of COVID-19, China has been following science-based prevention and control measures in accordance with law, and has done our utmost to protect people's health and safety, and safeguard their life and production. Given the ongoing spread of the coronavirus across the globe, the Chinese government has to adopt a series of management measures, which is timely adjusted in accordance with the evolving situation, in order to ensure the safe, healthy and orderly flow of Chinese and foreign travelers. China's prevention and control measures are scientific, professional and appropriate. I want to stress that China applies quarantine measures equally to all inbound travelers, including its own citizens.
With effective prevention and control measures in place, China is willing to work with all countries, India included, to make proper arrangement for the exchanges of personnel in the context of COVID-19.
Updated: 2021-09-17
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on September 17, 2021
Prasar Bharati: Earlier this week you said that if India has a need to discuss the issue of return of Indians to China, they may raise this with the Chinese side. I have learned and I understand that Indian embassy and consulates have repeatedly taken up this matter of return of Indians with Chinese authorities. But China has not entertained this request giving COVID-19 as a reason. So can you confirm that the Indian side is in touch with the Chinese side regarding this issue?
Zhao Lijian: Given the ongoing complex and grave situation of the pandemic, China applies quarantine measures equally to all inbound travelers, including its own citizens, based on the evolving situation, realities on the ground and science-based assessment. The travel of India's necessary personnel to China has always been guaranteed. We hope that the Indian side will also treat Chinese nationals going to India in an indiscriminate manner, create a necessary and healthy environment for them to work and live in India, and jointly do a good job in personnel exchanges between the two sides.
Follow-up: So you confirm that the Indian side is in touch with the Chinese side regarding this issue?
Zhao Lijian: We are maintaining communication through unimpeded diplomatic channels in both Beijing and New Delhi.
Updated:2021-09-14
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on September 14, 2021
Prasar Bharati: Recently China has allowed chambers of commerce from Germany, France and Italy to bring back their employees and family members to China. So, my question is, what's the criteria China is adopting to give visas to people from certain countries while blocking visas to 11 countries including India for the past 10 months? When will China issue visas to people from India?
Zhao Lijian: The global COVID-19 situation remains grave and complicated. Referencing the practices of other countries, China adjusts its management measures on in-bound travelers accordingly as the epidemic situation evolves. China stands ready to maintain close communication with all parties and properly manage the work related to international travel on the premise of ensuring effective epidemic control.
Follow-up: What do you mean by the steps by relevant countries? COVID cases are in many countries, not just the 11 countries or India, for that matter. So do you think there is no way people can be allowed to enter China following proper COVID protocols?
Zhao Lijian: China and relevant countries agreed to launch fast track arrangement for two-way travels related to resumption of work and production. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement made between China and relevant countries in light of the COVID-19 situation and need for resumption of work and production.
Follow-up: Do you think such arrangement can be done between China and India also?
Zhao Lijian: I believe we should leave that to the diplomats of our two countries to discuss. India can also talk to China if it has such needs.
Updated: 2021-07-22
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 22, the reporter of the Indian Broadcasting Corporation asked spokesman Zhao Lijian four times in succession. He first asked: South Korean and American students are returning to China one after another. What epidemic prevention measures should they abide by when entering China? Are the same epidemic prevention measures also applicable to Indian students waiting to go to China? Zhao Lijian responded that what I can tell you is that the Chinese government has always attached great importance to the issue of foreign students coming to China and will make an overall study on the return of foreign students to China on the premise of ensuring epidemic prevention safety.
In addition, the reporter also asked Zhao Lijian to confirm whether the Chinese embassies in South Korea and the United States have issued visas to students from the United States and South Korea? Is the report of tens of thousands of American and Korean students returning to China to resume classes true? For these issues, Zhao Lijian said bluntly: considering the development of the current world epidemic situation, China is coordinating epidemic prevention and control, and is also studying the return of foreign students to China.
Updated: 2021-07-09
On July 9, a foreign media reporter asked when China would allow foreign students to return to China for study. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the Chinese government has always attached great importance to the issue of foreign students coming to China and will comprehensively consider the resumption of classes for foreign students on the premise of ensuring epidemic prevention safety. China will continue to coordinate and determine various prevention and control measures on the basis of scientific analysis according to the development of the epidemic situation“ We are willing to actively build a healthy, safe and orderly order of personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries on the premise of ensuring the safety of epidemic prevention. "
Updated: 2021-03-09
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today that China will coordinate research on the resumption of foreign students in China while ensuring the safety of epidemic prevention.
At today's regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Indian reporter asked the spokesperson: China will provide visas and other cross-border travel conveniences, and the Chinese version of the international travel health certificate should not be applicable to foreigners at present. Under this circumstance, can we still expect foreign students to return to China soon to continue their studies?
In response, Zhao Lijian said that the Chinese side issued the Chinese version of the International Travel Health Certificate, which is a document issued to the Chinese side for nucleic acid testing or Chinese vaccination. Mutual recognition refers to mutual confirmation of the effectiveness of testing or vaccination, and on this basis, both parties provide convenience to relevant personnel.
Zhao Lijian introduced at a regular press conference yesterday (March 8) that China has launched a Chinese version of the International Travel Health Certificate, which is used to display health information such as nucleic acid, serum IgG antibody test results and vaccination status of Chinese outbound personnel. There are two forms of health certificate, electronic version and paper version. It contains an encrypted QR code, which can be verified and read with the public key provided by the Chinese party.
Regarding the issue of foreign students returning to China to continue their studies, Zhao Lijian once again stated today that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of international students in China, and requires relevant universities to maintain close contact with overseas students, carefully arrange online teaching, and properly handle students’ problems. Reasonable concerns and demands. On the premise of ensuring the safety of epidemic prevention, China will coordinate the study of the resumption of foreign students in China, and will maintain communication with all parties on this.
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