The Chinese civil aviation authorities have ordered Chinese airlines to stop prohibiting people of certain nationalities from buying plane tickets or getting visas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said on Thursday.
Sun made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on reports that some Arabs and Muslims were denied tickets by certain Chinese airlines, and people from such nations have had difficulties in getting visas from the Chinese government.
Sun said the Chinese government, when notified the situation, immediately launched an investigation into the matter.
He said neither the Chinese Foreign Ministry nor the China Civil Aviation Administration has ordered that tickets not be sold to people from countries concerned.
The inquiries revealed that some airlines did impose improper restrictions on ticket selling after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, but their practice does not represent the position of the Chinese government, Sun stressed.
Concerning the visa issue, China made some technical adjustments at present, when the APEC conference attended by world leaders is underway in Shanghai, Sun said, adding that the adjustment is only temporary and is not biased against or targeting any particular country.
As it always has, China welcomes people from all nations, including those from Arab countries, to come to China for normal trade and economic activities, Sun said. The visa issuance will resume normal practice after the APEC conference, Sun added.
(Xinhua News Agency 19/10/2001)
