Authorities swiftly activated an emergency response on Saturday night after a sandstorm swept through a desert tourist attraction in northwest China's Dunhuang City, suspending ticket sales and promptly evacuating visitors.
At around 18:00 that day, the city was hit by a severe sandstorm, with the sky shrouded in thick yellow dust.
In response, the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Yueya Spring Scenic Spot promptly evacuated all visitors, while local authorities organized free buses and government vehicles to ensure safe transportation to the city center.
"Over 80 trips have been made, with 142 vehicles dispatched, ensuring that the more than 5,200 tourists safely returned to the city center," said Zhao Li, deputy head of the city's comprehensive traffic and transportation law enforcement team.
Following the sandstorm, scheduled performances at the scenic spot were put on hold. The site announced that shows would restart once conditions improved.
Authorities launch emergency evacuation as sandstorm hits desert scenic spot in Dunhuang
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Brunei's second minister of foreign affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof in Beijing on Thursday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline and take new steps in building a China-Brunei community with a shared future.
Wang elaborated on China's principled position on the Taiwan question, and on the grave harm of the erroneous statements made by Japan's current leader regarding Taiwan.
For his part, Erywan said that Brunei attaches high importance to growing ties with China and recognizes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, will stay committed to the one-China policy, and will support China's great cause of national reunification.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of shared interest.
China, Brunei reaffirm commitment to strengthening ties as senior diplomats meet in Beijing
