I am a Pakistani passport holder and working as Assistant Professor in Abu Dhabi University. I am invited for presentation in a conference in Shanghai during June 2010. Today (May 19, 2010), I visited the Chinese embassy in Abu Dhabi to apply for Business (or Tourist visa). I showed the invitation letter and the salary letter from my university (which supports my travel expenses). The person on the Visa Application counter denied my application saying that (as a Pakistani national) I need 'Visa Notice Sheet' to be issued from China. I asked if I can apply for Tourist visa. He answered "Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, ... nationals cannot apply for Tourist Visa".

Can someone confirm if the answers given to me are correct? I am very surprised that Pakistanis cannot get Tourist visa. Pakistan has close ties with China. How this can be true?