U.S. urged to genuinely welcome Chinese students as it has said: Chinese FM

(ECNS） -- We urge the U.S. to genuinely welcome Chinese students as it has said, withdraw the biased and discriminatory Proclamation 10043, stop overstretching the concept of national security, stop interrogating, harassing or repatriating Chinese students in the U.S., and avoid similar incidents from happening again, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday

Responding that a Chinese student, who held a lawful visa issued by the U.S. government and planned to do cancer research in the U.S., was refused entry and repatriated by the U.S. side, Wang said "We have noted this and express our grave concern over this, which is yet another case of the U.S. law enforcement department’s wanton harassment and bullying of Chinese students. We have lodged a strong démarche to the U.S. side".

Wang stressed that people-to-people exchanges form the foundation for public support to China-U.S. relations, of which academic, educational, scientific and technological exchanges are an important part.

He pointed out that the U.S. side claims to welcome Chinese students, but in fact has continued the wrong practice of the previous administration of restricting and thwarting Chinese students planning to study or do research in the U.S.. This seriously harms the lawful rights and interests of Chinese students in the U.S. and undermines normal people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation between the two countries.

China will continue to support Chinese students in defending their legitimate and lawful rights and interests in accordance with law and remind our students heading for the U.S. to be mindful of such risks, he said.