India will continue to take up with China the return of over 23,000 stranded Indian students, besides a large number of Indian workers and their families, who are currently stranded in India for the last two years due to travel restrictions imposed by Beijing because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For our diaspora in China, the last couple of years have been particularly challenging in view of travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic”, the charge d’affaires of the Indian Embassy in Beijing, Dr. Acquino Vimal, said during a meeting of expats on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual conclave of the global Indian diaspora that is being held virtually, PTI news agency said. 

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic China stopped issuing visas for Indians in 2020 and currently there were no flights in operation between the two countries due to which over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine in Chinese universities, as well as hundreds of Indian businessmen and their families were stranded back home.

“Here, I would like to assure you all that we at the Embassy have never failed to raise your concerns with all the relevant authorities at every possible opportunity. We will continue to do so till we arrive at an acceptable solution,” he said.

Last year, the Ministry of External Affairs said that since New Delhi had not imposed any travel restrictions on Chinese nationals in India, Beijing should also reciprocate accordingly.(SAM)