Beijing: Defending its visa restrictions, which have prevented thousands of stranded Indians from returning to Beijing, China on Monday ruled out easing restrictions in the near future and called it “appropriate” to control the spread of COVID-19.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said measures have been taken for the safety and well-being of the people.
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“China’s measures are justified and I would also like to say that China enforces quarantine measures for all incoming travelers. China is ready to make good arrangements on the bilateral visit of personnel,” she told a media briefing here, PTI reported.
The spokesperson, who was responding to questions on criticism of China’s prolonged stringent travel restrictions by Indian Ambassador to Beijing Vikram Misri, said the travel restrictions also apply to Chinese nationals returning from abroad.
“China has to take a lot of quarantine measures but they are not targeting India alone. This applies equally to everyone, including Chinese nationals coming back to China,” she said.
Responding to whether China will discuss resumption of travel with India, the spokesperson said: “We stand ready to work with countries including India by making appropriate arrangements while ensuring security. But I don’t mean to say that we will settle this issue immediately.”
“Our measures are appropriate and we will make necessary adjustments as per the evolving situation,” she said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China has been adopting the quarantine measures based on the law in a scientific manner since the beginning of the Kovid-19.
“The pandemic is still spreading globally. Therefore, the Chinese government has taken a lot of measures and we are also adjusting the measures according to the emerging situation to protect the safety and health of the personnel concerned,” she said.
Expressing “disappointment” over China’s reluctance to allow the return of thousands of stranded Indian students, staff and their families due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian envoy in Beijing earlier last week called the country’s restrictions an “unscientific approach”. as was described. human issue.
“Very less complex issues, which have a purely humanitarian context and are not linked to bilateral diplomatic stances, such as facilitating movement of students, businessmen and stranded family members from India to China for more than a year and a half One more wait. Balanced and sensitive approach,” Misri said in his address to the Track-II talks on China-India relations.
“I may add here that India has also tried to keep its trade and commercial relations separate from existing differences, for example by issuing visas to Chinese businessmen to visit India,” he said.
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