China completes Kyrgyzstan evacuation
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Chinese nationals walk out of the air bridge after another chartered plane carrying 191 Chinese nationals stranded in the violence-hit Kyrgyz city of Osh lands in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 16, 2010. [Zhao Ge/Xinhua] |
It was tough to take the Chinese from the city to the airport of Osh and ensure their safety, said Li Qinghai, an official at the Osh-based representative office of the Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu, Xinjiang.
Most of the Chinese requesting evacuation were escorted by armored vehicles from the Kyrgyz border defense on the road to the airport.
But members of the evacuation team sometimes had to put on bullet-proof vests to find the Chinese nationals scattered around the city.
"The Foreign Ministry was overseeing and coordinating efforts of various governmental departments in China and the embassies in Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries," said Huang Ping, director of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry.
Chinese organizations in Kyrgyzstan played a vital role, too, by taking part in the communication and organization of the evacuation.
"We sure want our compatriots to be able to go back home safely as soon as possible," said a leader of the Chinese chamber of commerce in Osh.
"I am really pleased to see the emergency response of our government," said a businessperson surnamed Li, who came back aboard a chartered flight.
The Chinese team also helped with the evacuation of others stranded in Kyrgyzstan, including nationals of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan.
Liu Hong, a member of the team, helped secure the efforts of Kyrgyz border defense forces to escort 450 Turkmen students out of Kyrgyzstan after they had been stranded at the airport for four days.
"We truly thank him," one of the students said.
