Five kidnapped Chinese workers in Nigeria return to China

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On the fifth of January the five Chinese workers were kidnapped by gunmen from their accommodation about 35km from Port Harcourt, in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers. 13 days later, after intense work by both Chinese and Nigerian negotiating teams, they were freed.

Jonathan Oluwole Coker, Nigerian ambassador to China, said, "Both our two sides made efforts through different channels to guarantee the safe return of the five Chinese workers."

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Xu Jianguo has recommended that Chinese firms conduct research on the security situation when they start up in Nigeria. And he has promised to improve communications between the embassy and the Chinese firms working there.

Later in the day the five Chinese workers flew on back to their homes to the southern province of Sichuan comfortably in time for next month's Spring Festival.

This is good news that they have been released safe and sound. But alarm bells are ringing as the kidnapping raises questions about the safety of the increasing number of Chinese working overseas. The safety of such Chinese needs to be high on the agenda of China's diplomatic missions.

Editor:Du Xiaodan