At the airport in Bogota, Chinese Ambassador to Colombia Wang Xiaoyuan shakes hands with one of the four Chinese citizens who was released from captivity on Wednesday. The four were kidnapped by rebel forces in Colombia more than a year ago. Wang said no ransom was paid for the men's release. [Provided by Xinhua News Agency]
Four Chinese citizens kidnapped by rebel forces in Colombia more than a year ago and released on Wednesday are scheduled to return to China soon.
The Associated Press reported that the four, three oil company engineers and their translator, would leave Colombia on Friday. However, the date has not been confirmed by the Chinese embassy.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China expressed its gratitude on Friday to the Colombian government and all parties involved in helping rescue the four, who were kidnapped by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
She also confirmed the four will return home as soon as possible.
Chinese Ambassador to Colombia Wang Xiaoyuan told reporters in Bogota that no ransom was paid for the men’s release. One photograph released through the website of the Chinese embassy showed one man, bearded and with long hair, shaking hands with Wang at Bogota airport.
The men were flown to Bogota, the Colombian capital, on a plane chartered by the Chinese embassy.
Wang said they would fly home to China on Friday.
