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)