Evacuating nationals
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China is making every effort to bring the Chinese nationals stranded in turbulent Libya back to safety. Safe evacuation of all the Chinese nationals in the North African country is now a top concern.
With Libya plunging ever deeper into chaos and bloodshed, the situation has become increasingly dangerous for the large number of Chinese people and other foreigners living or visiting there.
Chinese firms in Libya have been attacked and Chinese nationals injured as the turmoil has intensified.
Both President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have ordered all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in Libya. This high-profile attention is testament to the people-first principles of the government.
It is encouraging to learn that the first 83 Chinese nationals were evacuated from Libya en route to Egypt's second largest city Alexandria on Wednesday. From there, they will fly back to China. More Chinese nationals will be evacuated to Egypt through the border crossing, according to the Chinese Embassy in Libya.
The Chinese mainland has also vowed to help compatriots from Taiwan who are stranded in Libya.
In the meantime, China has urged Libya to take substantial measures to protect the lives and property of Chinese people in the country, as well as other foreign nationals.
Following the government-toppling protests in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyan protesters started to take to the streets early last week in a bid to end Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule.
Along with the country's rapid economic and social development, recent years have seen a rocketing number of Chinese people traveling or working overseas. Statistics indicate Chinese citizens paid 45.84 million visits abroad in 2009, and more than 10,000 Chinese enterprises have set up businesses in foreign countries.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the number of cases in which Chinese citizens get in trouble abroad now exceeds 30,000 a year.
It is, therefore, a demanding task for the country to provide support for Chinese people stranded in foreign countries.
Yet whenever there is a life-threatening emergency or natural disaster, the timely support and assistance from the government has always offered a beacon of hope for people in difficulty overseas.
With government departments and personnel being mobilized to tap every means of transport, it is hoped that all Chinese citizens in Libya will be safe.
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