Beijing, China - October 02, 2024

China has successfully evacuated more than 200 of its citizens and their families from war-torn Lebanon as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies in the south of the country.

The first group of 69 Chinese citizens, along with 11 of their foreign family members, were evacuated from Lebanon and safely arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday.

The second group of 146 Chinese citizens and five foreign family members safely arrived in Beijing in the early hours of Wednesday on a chartered Air China flight.

Huang Shuai, a project manager working for a Chinese enterprise in Lebanon, played a critical role in coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Chinese embassy. He praised the tireless work of embassy staff, saying that the process would not have been so smooth and fast without the help of the diplomats.

Among the 146 evacuees, 137 were employees of Chinese-funded enterprises in Lebanon, while nine were overseas Chinese living there, including one resident of Hong Kong.

The evacuees expressed a sense of security throughout the process, attributed to the support of their home country.

All those Chinese citizens who expressed a desire to leave Lebanon have been successfully relocated, while staff at the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon will stick to their posts, the Foreign Ministry said.

Shotlist:
Beijing, China - Oct 2, 2024:
1. Various of Huang Shuai, project manager of Chinese enterprise, showing photos taken during evacuation;
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Huang Shuai, project manager of Chinese enterprise (ending with shot 3):
"The embassy staff was working without rest for two days before our evacuation. I could tell they were exhausted when I contacted them, but they also reassured us that all of us would be evacuated safely. I also told everyone that I had been in contact with the embassy and that they could rest assured.”;
Lebanon - Oct 1, 2024
3. Various of Chinese citizens gathering, preparing to leave;
4. Chinese citizens at border check in airport;
Beijing, China - Oct 2, 2024
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tao Xiaoteng, Chinese evacuee (ending with shot 6):
"Since the war broke out, I was one of those people on the project who was not really scared. I was eating and sleeping as usual because I've always believed that our motherland will never give up on any Chinese compatriot overseas. From customs to the security checks, there were staff from the embassy and the consulate helping out with each procedure, especially our ambassador and counselor, who had waited for us at the departure gate. Then they shook hands with each of us, telling us to rest assured. With the motherland, no one need be afraid.";
6. Various of Chinese citizens getting off plane, having group photo taken at airport;
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Chao, Chinese evacuee (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"When the plane took off, the captain made a remark beginning with this line: 'Under the coordination of the Central Party Committee and the State Council, our company is commissioned to take you home. The moment you stepped on the plane meant that you had already returned to the embrace of our motherland. Our motherland is incredibly powerful.' That was his opening, and when he was saying that, the entire cabin erupted with excitement and everyone applauded.";
China - Oct 1, 2024
8. Various of passengers, cabin crew applauding, waving Chinese national flags in cabin.

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