Visa denial report not true: China

new delhi — The Chinese Embassy on Saturday said it has not denied visa to two researchers of a seven-member India Foundation delegation for visiting the Fudan University in Shanghai.

Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India counsellor Xie Liyan denied the report and said that all seven members of India Foundation delegation to visit China got their visas in time.

There were reports that China has also put the visa of India Foundation Director Alok Bansal on hold and denied visa to two researchers, following the developments the foundation on Friday called off the visit.

“As far as I know, all seven members of India Foundation delegation to visit China got their visas in time. None of the visa application was denied. The delegation will visit China as scheduled,” the embassy said.

It added: “The Chinese side always welcomes and supports the exchanges of think tanks between China and India. It is not true that the source of India Foundation claims that two of its junior research members were denied visas and the visit to China of the delegation has been cancelled.”

On Friday, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is on the board of directors of India Foundation, had denied media reports that he was denied visa by China but confirmed that visas of two of their researchers were rejected. —