Beijing: China today denied it had stopped issuing multiple-entry visas and said it had not cut down the number of visas.

Dismissing as "groundless" reports that it had stopped issuing multi-entry visas, a senior Foreign Ministry Consular Department official said the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad had been issuing them to those who meet the requirements.

The decision whether to issue the visa, the type and the period of validity and period of stay, was being taken according to relevant laws and regulations, the unnamed official was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

China had issued 6.51 million visas to foreigners in 2005, 7.4 million in 2006 and 8.13 million in 2007, the official said.

China had admitted recently that it had tightened the visa process ahead of the Beijing Olympics. "In the approval process, we will be more strict and more serious with the procedure," Foreign Ministry Qin Gang had said, adding, this policy would be maintained for a period of time.

Qin had however clarified that China's recent visa policy arrangements did not mean the suspension of multiple-entry visas and due arrangements have been made in line with practices of the Olympic Games held earlier.
Source : PTI