An Air China plane takes off from Beijing Daxing International Airport. File photo. (Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn)
After the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom chartered a plane on April 3 to take home 180 Chinese children studying in the UK, the Chinese embassy in the United States has posted a questionnaire on its website to look into the demands of Chinese students, especially minors, wanting to return home from the U.S.
As the novel coronavirus outbreak worsens in Western countries, many local schools and colleges have suspended classes and shut down on-campus dormitories, making life difficult for Chinese students overseas, especially minors who lack self-care ability or self-protection capacity to live independently and protect themselves from infection.
With international flights to China canceled because of the pandemic, overseas students and their families have appealed to the authorities to arrange for special flights to get those studying overseas back home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by giving priority to minor students in special flights to China.
After around 180 Chinese students in the UK, mostly teenagers, arrived at Jinan, capital of Shandong province, on April 3, the Chinese embassy in the U.S. is also arranging special flights for Chinese students studying there.
As Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a recent media briefing, China cares deeply about Chinese students abroad and takes active measures to protect their health and keep them safe. The effort to arrange special flights to bring them home shows the authorities' responsibility and care for Chinese nationals, irrespective of whether they are at home or abroad.
More importantly, the effort to give priority to bringing back minor students is commendable. It shows the authorities' good intention of taking care of juveniles and helping those in need.
