Blind activist Chen set to go to America following deal between US, China

Beijing, May 5 (ANI): Following a deal between China and America, blind dissident Chen Guangcheng will be allowed to leave the country with his family to study at a US university.

en Guangcheng had recently taken refuge in the US Embassy in Beijing after his escape from house arrest, The Telegraph reports.

He had asked to leave China after he emerged from the embassy, as he felt that he and his family would not be safe in the country.

However, it is unclear if the Chinese Government would allow Chen to return to China after his US stint if he wished to.

Senior State Department officials have said that the issue of Chen's right to return to China did not come up in discussions with the Chinese Government, adding that China was honouring its commitments made during negotiations.

After two days of negotiations, during which US secretary of State Hillary Clinton intervened at several key moments, Chinese officials reportedly agreed that Chen could take up a fellowship at New York University.

"The Chinese Government has indicated that it will accept Chen's applications for appropriate travel documents," Victoria Nuland, a State department spokesman, said.

Earlier, Liu Weimin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign ministry said: "If [Mr Chen] wishes to study overseas, as a Chinese citizen, he can, like any other citizen, process relevant procedures with relevant departments through normal channels in accordance with the law".

Officials have, however, not commented on the possible timing of Chen's departure for the US, but confirmed that a student visa would permit him to bring his wife and two children along.

Chen is likely to travel as soon as he recovers from three broken bones he sustained while escaping house arrest. (ANI)