China strongly opposes the United States government's move to restrict some from studying in the US, the Ministry of Education said in a statement on Friday.

A ministry spokesperson said the ministry strongly opposes politicizing and stigmatizing normal studying abroad.

"US leaders have said publicly many times the US welcomes Chinese students, yet the recent policy changes of the US side contradict those words," the spokesperson said.

"We urge the US side to return to rational thinking, respect public opinion, and do more things to facilitate bilateral people-to-people communications and understanding."

China will continue supporting student exchanges between the two countries and welcome students from all over the world, US included, to come to China to study, the statement said.