The first special flight carrying Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport on Friday afternoon, having departed from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. All 330 passengers aboard were Chinese nationals, including company employees and overseas Chinese residents in Iran. After a six-hour flight, the evacuees disembarked visibly moved, waving Chinese flags and expressing relief at returning to their homeland after days of turmoil abroad. "Our safe and smooth return was made possible by our strong motherland. This deep sense of gratitude will remain in all our hearts," said Wang Mingwu, a Chinese citizen evacuated on the special flight. "With our strong motherland coming to bring us home, we felt completely at ease," said Wei Ting, another citizen aboard the special flight. "Only those who have been through the fire of war can truly understand the value of peace and safety," said Liu Zheng, another Chinese evacuee. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials welcomed the returning citizens from Iran at the airport. "In recent days, our staff at home and abroad have worked around the clock to coordinate with relevant countries, establishing evacuation routes through Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Jordan, Egypt, and other nations. So far, more than 2,000 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Iran, with hundreds also relocated from Israel. As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to implement the important directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decisions of the Party Central Committee. We remain committed to a people-centered diplomatic approach and will spare no effort to safeguard our citizens," said Li Chunlin, deputy director general of the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shotlist: Beijing, China - June 20, 2025: 1. Various of first special flight carrying Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran arriving at airport, taxiing; 2. Sign of Air China; 3. Various of Chinese citizens disembarking, waving, some holding Chinese national flags in hands; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Mingwu, Chinese citizen evacuated from Iran (starting with shot 3): "Our safe and smooth return was made possible by our strong motherland. This deep sense of gratitude will remain in all our hearts."; 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wei Ting, Chinese citizen evacuated from Iran: "With our strong motherland coming to bring us home, we felt completely at ease."; 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Zheng, Chinese citizen evacuated from Iran: "Only those who have been through the fire of war can truly understand the value of peace and safety."; 7. Various of Chinese evacuees walking, waving flags at airport; 8. Chinese evacuee waving hand; 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Li Chunlin, deputy director general, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (partially overlaid with shots 10-11): "In recent days, our staff at home and abroad have worked around the clock to coordinate with relevant countries, establishing evacuation routes through Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Jordan, Egypt, and other nations. So far, more than 2,000 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Iran, with hundreds also relocated from Israel. As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to implement the important directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decisions of the Party Central Committee. We remain committed to a people-centered diplomatic approach and will spare no effort to safeguard our citizens."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Sign reading "Welcome Home"; 11. Evacuated Chinese citizens holding floral bouquets, flags; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 12. Evacuated Chinese citizens holding national flag, posing for photo upon arrival. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]