China is urging the government of Sudan to help rescue two Chinese workers kidnapped Saturday by militants, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Anti-government militants abducted the two men in western Sudan at about 4 pm on Saturday.

The workers had been drilling water wells some 80 kilometers from the city of Buram, said Fong Fude, chargé d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Sudan.

The two -- Li Aihua, 34, and Jia Huipeng, 22 -- are employed by the North China Construction Company. The firm contacted the Chinese Embassy on Sunday and reported the kidnapping.

The Chinese Embassy held an emergency meeting to discuss necessary measures to rescue the men, Fong said.

Leaders of the State Council are concerned about the incident, the Chinese Foreign Ministry sources said.

The ministry also told the embassy to contact the Sudanese Foreign Ministry and other concerned institutions to request their help.

The Sudanese government has expressed deep regret for the incident and is vowing to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and immediate release of the men.

The Sudanese have promised to keep Chinese officials updated about developments in the case.

"We are very concerned about the safety of the abducted employees in Sudan," said Liu Fengyu, deputy director of North China Geological Survey Bureau, a supervising agency of the construction company.

Liu said they will do all they can to ensure the safety of the men while cooperating with the efforts of the Chinese Embassy.

The bureau will also take care of the men's families, she said.

The Sudan branch of the Tianjin-based company has been operating two years. The workers have dug more than 100 water wells, winning acclaim from the Sudanese people, she said.

(China Daily March 18, 2004)