China hopes the Indonesian government take steps to protect ethnic Chinese from being hurt by rioters, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Tuesday.

"We have noticed reports that massive riots occurred successively in the Central Kalimantan and Riau provinces in Indonesia," Zhang told a regular press conference.

"We hope that the Indonesian government take effective measures to guarantee the safety and property of people of all nationalities, including those of Chinese origin," she said.

(Xinhua 02/27/2001)