15th July 2021
Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs China,
On the 7th and 9th July 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China held a press conference during which the spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, answered questions from journalists representing India and Middle East concerning international students stuck outside China while stating the following:
“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”
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1890399.shtml
“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”
and
“I just stated China’s principled position on the issue of foreign students coming back to China for their studies. We attach high importance to this issue. 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.”
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1891109.shtml
It is of great joy that China is placing such importance in order to strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation but on behalf of students outside China who have been unable to return to their schools for more than a year, we ask that education receive some priority, as COVID-19 does not seem to have the potential of being fully eradicated yet. Additionally, many countries have adapted to deal with the pandemic to ensure that education does not come to a standstill, therefore, safe measures can be taken to ensure that educational exchange does not cease and can be controlled and monitored through vaccination, preventative measures on arrival and regular testing on campus.
In light of the above, students should return in a stepwise process using the same epidemic control measures in place for business and work visa holders and other students eligible to travel to China such as South Korean citizens and NYU Shanghai students. The policy requiring vaccinations for work, business and family visas can be extended to include students too.
We would like to highlight that online education is not working out for students especially those who are paying tuition fees in full and receiving education of inadequate quality is doing more harm than good and as a result urgent action need to be taken. Additionally, there is the issue of scholarships being withheld, and that has put great financial strain on students. Others requiring more practical work such as lab based research students or medical students have been unable to progress in their study for the past 1.5 years. Our respective universities are limited in what they can do in order to solve the issue of online medical degree validation, internships and lab work.
We believe China can uphold its position as the most popular educational destination of the world, whilst protecting legitimate rights and interests of foreign students by resuming valuable academic and educational person-to-person interactions through cooperation and understanding.
Finally, the minister also stated in an earlier response on 7th July to a question concerning the 2021 UN Chinese Language Day:
“Human civilization derives its splendor from diversity and thrives on mutual learning. Language is an important carrier of cultural exchange and mutual learning between civilizations. We are pleased to see that more and more people around the world are learning and using the Chinese language, and more and more questions are raised in Chinese at our regular press conference. We will continue to provide necessary convenience and assistance for friends from other countries to learn Chinese.”
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1890399.shtml
We wholeheartedly support this and are honoured to be ambassadors of the rich language and culture China has to offer and we would be very much looking forward to fulfilling our roles by being present on our beloved campuses.
We here at CISU are eagerly looking forward to receive a timeline for a positive outcome.
Yours Faithfully,
CISU
China International Student Union
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China International Student Union 
I have completed the basic courses but for sake of professional courses in need laboratory work but I can’t go back and apprehend to lose my educational career
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