The Chinese embassy in Mozambique announced today that it has resumed accepting visa applications for Mozambicans wishing to study at Chinese universities.

According to a statement released by the embassy on the social network Facebook, the reopening, effective since Tuesday, covers both new students and students already enrolled in universities in China but who until now have been attending classes remotely.

The Beijing Government has offered 16 scholarships in Chinese universities for Mozambican students for the 2022/2023 academic year.

On August 19, the Mozambican Scholarship Institute (IBE) revealed that six Mozambican students had been awarded Chinese scholarships, four for undergraduate courses and two for master's degrees.

The IBE, which is under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, then stressed that, "due to the covid-19 pandemic, the entry and stay policies for foreigners in China have not yet been defined."

In the previous academic year, 2021/2022, the Chinese government had awarded scholarships to 13 Mozambican students, seven for undergraduate courses and six for master's degrees.

Also since Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Sao Tome and Principe has resumed accepting visa applications for Sao Tomeans wishing to study at universities in China.

In a statement, the embassy also said that family members of students from São Tomé and Príncipe can apply for "residence for companion" or visiting visas.

Since early 2020, China has kept its borders closed to the overwhelming majority of foreign students due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Lusa)