Description
China said on Thursday it would like to treat Indian journalists as "friends and family" after India expressed hope that Beijing would facilitate their continued presence in China. The comments came as China barred two Indian journalists from entering the country, saying India had refused to approve applications from Chinese journalists. For Chinese journalists with valid Indian visas for journalistic activities, we see no difficulty in reporting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said yesterday.
To Indian journalists working in China, he said: "We hope that the Chinese authorities will facilitate their continued presence and reporting from China."
Later that day, his Chinese counterpart said Beijing hoped India would facilitate the arrival of Chinese journalists in the country, when asked about the suspension of the visas of the two Indian journalists.
"We would like to treat Indian journalists as friends and family," said Mao Ning, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry.
(With contributions from PTI and Reuters)
