China attaches great importance to safety of overseas nationals: FM

China

China attaches great importance to safety of overseas nationals: FM

2025-03-07 15:59 Last Updated At：03-08 00:47

China attaches great importance to the well-being and safety of overseas Chinese and will provide more effective consular protection and assistance to them, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday.

Wang briefed the media on China's endeavor to protect its nationals overseas on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress.

"The central Party leadership attaches great importance to the Chinese nationals overseas, and their well-being and safety has always been on our mind. In 2024, we evacuated more than 10,000 Chinese citizens from high-risk areas like Lebanon, Haiti and others, processed more than 50,000 consular protection cases, handled over 500,000 calls on the consular service hotline 12308, and issued more than 5,000 safety alerts. Our goal is: No matter where you are, the motherland will always be close to you," said Wang.

Wang said China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos are working to crack down on telecom fraud in the Thai-Myanmar border region.

"Online gambling and telecom fraud is a matter of grave concern to the people, hence an issue that we must keep a firm hand on. Recently, thanks to the support from leaders of China and the neighboring countries, law-enforcement authorities and diplomatic services have conducted effective cross-border cooperation and made all-out efforts to save stranded Chinese citizens. What I want to tell you is that the telecom fraud parks in northern Myanmar near the border region with China have all been removed. In the Thailand-Myanmar border region, China has joined forces with Thailand, Myanmar and Laos to crack down on telecom fraud. Our mission is: to cut off the manipulating hands grasping at the people, and to remove the malignancy of telecom fraud," said Wang.

Meanwhile, he said more effective measures will be taken this year to provide consular protection and assistance to overseas Chinese.

"In 2025, we will focus on three aspects to build the system for the protection of Chinese nationals and interests overseas. First, we will build an international cooperation platform for protecting the safety of overseas citizens. We will deepen such cooperation with other countries, especially with BRI partner countries and Lancang-Mekong countries, and expand the 'circle of friends' for mutual assistance. Second, we will make good use of the consular service hotline, providing inquiries and assistance 24/7 without time difference. Third, we will improve the risk alert and emergency response coordination mechanism, providing more effective consular protection and assistance to overseas Chinese and more assurances to the people," said Wang.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.