CHINA / National

Chinese evacuees leave for China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-24 23:27

Three hundred and ten Chinese evacuated from the strife-torn Solomon Islands left for China Monday afternoon from Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby onboard a chartered Boeing-777.


Australian soldiers stand guard on a street in the Chinatown district of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara April 24, 2006. The Solomon Islands parliament was sworn in under heavy security on Monday amid fears the first sitting since last week's devastating riots in the capital could trigger further violence. [Reuters]

So far the Chinese government has completed the evacuation of Chinese from the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara, which witnessed two days of riots sparked by the controversial election of new Prime Minister Synder Rini last week.

The plane took off from China earlier in the day and arrived at Port Moresby hours later.

The Chinese government started to evacuate Chinese from Honiara Saturday. The evacuees arrived at Port Moresby on board four chartered planes.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday instructed the foreign ministry as well as Chinese embassies and consulates in Papua New Guinea and other countries to take measures to practically protect the security of the overseas Chinese in Solomon Islands and help them tide over the current hardships facing them.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also asked the Foreign Ministry and relevant departments to watch the development of the Solomons situation, and to take every possible measure to ensure the safety of all people of Chinese origin in the islands country.

The Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po said that some 350 people, including 20 from Hong Kong, would be on board the flight which is due back in Guangzhou on Monday evening.

The Chinese were the main target and victims of the riots in Honiara. Chinatown was nearly leveled down following looting and arson. Many of the Chinese are homeless now after their property lost and business ruined in the two-day riots starting on April 18.