The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) issued an emergency statement here Wednesday, reminding Chinese people to be cautious of their personal safety in foreign countries.

The ministry warned Chinese people not to travel to the countries with severe social stability and security problems.

It also encouraged Chinese business people and construction workers who want to work abroad to use legal channels and never trust illegal intermediate organizations or individuals.

The statement was made after the kidnapping of eight Chinese workers in Iraq on Jan. 18. A video tape aired by the al-Jazeera TV channel on Tuesday showed the eight hostages holding Chinese passports standing in a row, flanked by masked militants.

The Chinese Embassy in Baghdad then confirmed that eight nationals were kidnapped by militants in Iraq, pledging that the Chinese government would spare no efforts to secure their release.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2005)