China has evacuated 791 Chinese nationals from Iran to safe areas, while some have also been evacuated from Israel, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Wednesday. "Up till now, with the active assistance and support of nearby countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy and consulate in Iran have organized and coordinated the evacuation of 791 Chinese citizens from Iran to safety. Another 1,000-plus people are still being relocated and evacuated," said Guo.
Chinese embassies and consulates in neighboring countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have dispatched task forces to assist Chinese nationals at border crossings, and are helping with their temporary resettlement and onward travel back to China, he added.
"Some Chinese nationals have already been safely evacuated from Israel. We appreciate relevant countries’ support and assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic and consular missions will continue to do everything possible to help our fellow nationals move to safety and evacuate," the spokesman said.
China evacuates 791 Chinese nationals from Iran: spokesman
China's commodity price index stood at 129.9 points in March, up 4 percent month on month and 14.5 percent year on year, according to data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on Sunday.
Among the 50 major commodities under key monitoring by the CFLP, 38 recorded a month-on-month price increase in March.
Specifically, diesel, methanol and ethylene glycol led the gains, rising 30.5 percent, 30.4 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively, from the previous month.
Affected by imported factors such as tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in international crude oil prices, China's energy and chemical price indices rose significantly, up 16.5 percent and 21.8 percent month on month, respectively.
Driven by rising international fertilizer prices and growing demand for biofuels, China's agricultural product price index increased by 2.8 percent month on month.
Analysts noted that the sharp rise in the commodity price index in March comes from factors such as the recovery of the domestic commodity market, the good outcomes of policies, and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Given the increasingly volatile international commodity prices and the rising uncertainties in importing energy, chemicals and other commodities, it is necessary to diversify the sources of raw materials, expand the use of alternative resources, and enhance the ability to resist and respond to risky factors that may cause fluctuation in markets, said the analysts.
China's commodity price index up 4 pct in March
