Modi govt in talks with China on return of Indian medical students
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NEW DELHI: The government on Friday told the Parliament that India and China are in touch with each other to work out ways to bring Indian medical students back to the country.
Because of Beijing's Covid-19 restrictions, thousands of Indian students have been unable to return to China for more than two years.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that the Center is in discussions with the Chinese authorities regarding the return of Indian students.
Muralidharan said that External Affairs Minister S Jayashankar raised the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meetings on March 25 and July 7.
"The Chinese side has recently expressed its willingness to consider facilitating the return of a limited number of Indian students on a trial basis depending upon need," he said.
Accordingly, the Indian Embassy in Beijing issued a press release on April 29 seeking details of students intending to return to China to continue their studies, the minister said.
"A list of all such students willing to return to China has been provided to the Chinese side for their consideration.
The two sides are currently in touch with each other to work out further modalities for facilitating the return of Indian medical students to China," Muraleedharan said.
He said the government will continue to pursue the matter with the Chinese authorities.
The Minister said that the Chinese Embassy had issued a notice last month revising the visa policy for Indian citizens.
According to the notice, he said China will start accepting visa applications from foreign nationals and their accompanying family members who are going to the country to resume work.
The Minister's reply was affirmative to a specific question on whether the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is negotiating with Hungary, Russia and other countries to admit Indian medical students who have returned from conflict-affected Ukraine.
"Yes. The Ministry of External Affairs has been in touch with various countries regarding the continuation of medical education in respect of Indian students who have returned from Ukraine," he said.
Meanwhile, Muralidharan pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the nodal ministry for medical education.
"This issue will also need to be seen in the context of existing guidelines of the National Medical Commission on migration between universities in different countries," he said.
With PTI inputs
