Kidnapped Chinese CNP oil workers released unharmed

China's Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that nine Chinese oil workers kidnapped last month in Nigeria were released unharmed.

The workers were abducted on Jan. 25 when gunmen stormed the government-owned Chinese National Petroleum Co office in the Nigerian state of Bayelsa.

The Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement on its Web site that the workers were released early yesterday morning, Beijing time, and were expected to return to China soon.

condemnation

Spokeswoman Jiang Yu (姜瑜) said in the statement that China condemned this and other recent kidnappings and attacks against Chinese people overseas.

In a separate incident in southern Nigeria's Rivers state last month, five Chinese telecommunication workers were kidnapped and safely returned within two weeks.

targets

As Chinese travel abroad in ever-greater numbers, they are increasingly falling victim to crime, kidnappings and murder, particularly in dangerous and unstable parts of Africa and Asia where Chinese companies have sought contracts.

Foreign workers, especially in the oil industry, have become targets of armed militants seeking a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth.

"We hope overseas Chinese enterprises and personnel will further raise their awareness of safety and risk and step up precautionary measures so as to ensure their safety," Jiang said.

The release of the nine workers comes as Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) is midway through an eight-country tour of Africa.