The story appears on

Page A3

February 23, 2011

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeNation

China prepares to safeguard its citizens in Libya

China yesterday expressed concern about the safety of Chinese citizens and businesses in Libya after one of its construction companies was looted and its workers run off by gunmen.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao ordered "all-out efforts" to protect Chinese in Libya and the State Council, China's Cabinet, ordered an emergency team headed by Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang be set up to coordinate the evacuation of any stranded Chinese.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters at a regular news briefing that some Chinese citizens have been injured amid the unrest and businesses damaged.
Ma urged Libya to "restore social stability and normalcy as soon as possible and spare no effort to protect the safety of Chinese people, organizations and assets in Libya."
A construction site run by Huafeng Construction Co from Zhejiang Province was looted by armed gangsters on Sunday in the Libya city of Agedabia. Nearly 1,000 Chinese workers were forced from their on-site living quarters and became homeless.
Ma called on Libya to investigate the attacks on Chinese interests and punish those involved.
Some 30,000 Chinese nationals are in Libya, according to the China Youth Daily.
China is to send chartered planes and ships, including fishing boats operating near Libya, with medical supplies and other necessities to areas near Libya, prepared to enter the country at any moment to evacuate Chinese.
The Chinese Embassy in Tripoli urged its citizens to be careful in the midst of the "rioting and beating, smashing, looting and arson."
The Chinese Embassy in Egypt said its staff were ready to help Chinese nationals fleeing from Libya.
Embassy spokesman Lu Jingchun said two of its staff were in Matruh to help workers with Chinese companies leaving Libya.
Another embassy team of 10 people set off from Cairo yesterday morning and were expected to arrive in Matruh last night.
Several members will stay in Matruh and the rest will go to the Egyptian-Libyan border to help evacuate Chinese workers, Lu said.
The first batch of 83 Chinese from Libya has arrived in the Egyptian border crossing of Sallum.
The Chinese Consulate General in Alexandria said some 13,000 Chinese workers were stranded at the Libyan-Egyptian border. The embassy in Egypt has organized about 50 buses to go to border areas to evacuate Chinese citizens.

 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend