China "1,457 Overseas Chinese Repatriated by Charter Flights, 11 Million Masks Delivered"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China announced that it repatriated 1,457 citizens via charter flights and delivered over 11 million masks to protect its nationals from the overseas spread of COVID-19.

On the 2nd, Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Foreign Minister of China, stated at a briefing, "In March, as the overseas spread of COVID-19 accelerated, China operated nine charter flights to bring back 1,457 Chinese international students from severely affected countries such as Iran and Italy."

China's dispatch of charter flights to bring back international students was due to the fact that many students attempting to return to China to avoid COVID-19 were increasingly unable to continue traveling at transit points because of strengthened quarantine measures and reduced flights in various countries.

Vice Minister Ma said, "The Civil Aviation Administration has expressed that if demand is high, temporary flights and charter planes can be arranged to assist their return." He added, "Although many international students have already returned to China, the country anticipates that there will still be students wishing to return from countries severely affected by COVID-19, and is considering a phased and orderly deployment."

Vice Minister Ma also stated, "For Chinese international students staying abroad, consulates in various regions are distributing 'health kits' that include masks and disinfectants," adding, "These kits contain over 11 million masks and 500,000 disinfectant items."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.