China working to ensure abducted Chinese worker’s safety in Sudan

BEIJING, March 23, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government will try its utmost and every possible means through various channels to ensure the safety of the Chinese worker who remains kidnapped in Sudan, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan here Tuesday.

Two Chinese workers were abducted on March 13 while working on a well-digging project by anti-government militants at Darfurat Darfur, 80 kilometers from Buram in the west.

Kong said at a routine news briefing that one of the workers has escaped to a safe place and he is in quite good health condition at present.

The Chinese Embassy in Sudan proved the worker managed to escape to a safe place dominated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on March 20, while the second Chinese worker was still in the hands of anti-government rebels.

The Chinese government urged the anti-government militants in Sudan to release the other hostage as soon as possible, Kong said.

The spokesman appreciated efforts by some countries and international organizations to rescue the abducted Chinese workers.