The Chinese Government showed deep concern for the stranded citizens. A travel agency in Hubei Province informed the Consular Protection Center on the evening of November 30 that a group of 40 travelers, half of whom were senior citizens, were trapped in Thailand and badly needed assistance. The center arranged a homeward-bound flight for them that night.

The Chinese Government brought home more than 3,400 Chinese travelers, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, on 12 flights. This was the largest overseas traveler rescue action that China has taken since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

What are the major security problems for Chinese citizens abroad?

The international security situation has generally been stable in recent years, which is conducive to Chinese citizens' outbound travels. Nevertheless, uncertainties are on the rise. In 2008, two salient factors affected Chinese citizens and enterprises in foreign countries:

First, the global financial crisis has not only resulted in economic recession but also heightened political and social tension. Unemployment, immigration and social welfare have become acute problems in some developed countries, giving rise to trade protectionism, nationalism and xenophobia. In this context, Chinese citizens and enterprises in foreign countries faced a complex environment in 2008. For example, foreign law enforcement agencies occasionally confiscated goods in Chinese shops. Some Chinese enterprises were treated with hostility. There was an increase in the number of crimes committed against overseas Chinese citizens. Foreign employers infringed upon Chinese workers' lawful rights because of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and their cash flow problems.

Second, traditional and non-traditional security threats are interwoven. Armed conflicts broke out in some countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia such as Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Georgia. A number of countries in China's neighborhood such as Thailand, Afghanistan and Pakistan are mired in political instability. Chinese citizens staying in these countries face security problems. Non-traditional security threats such as terrorism and piracy off Somalia's coast have become extremely pronounced. In 2008, nine Chinese engineers were kidnapped in Sudan and five of them were killed. Seven ships with Chinese crew or cargo were captured off Somalia's coast. Unlike in the past when Chinese citizens and enterprises suffered indirectly from terrorist attacks on Western targets, they are now under direct threat from terrorism.

In addition, as an increasing number of Chinese people go abroad to study and travel, the number of personal injury cases, traffic accidents and incidents of unfair treatment tend to rise.

What actions has the Foreign Ministry taken to address these risks?

The Foreign Ministry has taken a series of measures to protect overseas Chinese citizens. In May 2006, it created a Consular Protection Division under its Department of Consular Affairs. It upgraded the division to the Consular Protection Center in August 2007 to enhance its capacity.

The number of Chinese citizens traveling abroad has registered double-digit annual growth in recent years, reaching 42 million in the first 11 months of 2008. The number of cases handled by the Consular Protection Center and Chinese embassies and consulates in foreign countries has also increased. They have dealt with more than 30,000 cases every year since 2006.

Apart from addressing cases, the Foreign Ministry has taken steps to raise public awareness about safety in foreign countries to prevent incidents. We launched a month-long public awareness campaign in July 2008 both at home and abroad shortly before the Beijing Olympics. During the campaign, we published China's Guide to Consular Protection and Assistance 2008 (Illustration) with publicity brochures. We also gave interviews and contributed articles to media outlets in a bid to imbue the Chinese general public with a sense of safety in foreign countries.

The Foreign Ministry's website-www.mfa.gov.cn-is another important platform. We released more than 500 pieces of information on security in foreign countries on the website in 2008. We are currently planning to redesign the website in a bid to offer a one-stop information service to Chinese citizens traveling abroad. The Foreign Ministry also conducts training for its consular officials and seeks to introduce legislation on consular protection.

What are the major cases that the Consular Protection Center has handled since its establishment more than a year ago?

The Consular Protection Center handled dozens of major cases in 2008: the evacuation of more than 200 Chinese citizens from Chad; kidnappings and hijackings of Chinese citizens in seven countries including Sudan and Somalia; labor disputes involving Chinese workers in 35 countries including Russia, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates; attacks on Chinese citizens in South Africa, Britain, Australia and South Korea; the return of more than 3,400 Chinese travelers stranded in Thailand; and the rescue of Chinese citizens affected by the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. It also dealt with more than 10 cases involving compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, such as Taiwan compatriots' shipwreck off Madagascar and the Hong Kong compatriots who went missing in the cyclone in Myanmar.

How does the Consular Protection Center interact with Chinese embassies and consulates in foreign countries?

The center serves as the headquarters for dealing with consular protection cases. Coordination is one of its major tasks. It coordinates the efforts of central and local governments as well as institutions and enterprises at home and abroad. It pools the resources of all parties concerned to protect Chinese citizens and enterprises in foreign countries.

Successful consular protection hinges on the efficiency and quality of coordination. In 2004, the State Council established the inter-ministerial meeting mechanism led by the Foreign Ministry and involving 26 members, including Central Government ministries and the military. The Chinese Government resorts to this mechanism immediately after an overseas security incident happens.