Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi holds telephone conversation with His Philippine Counterpart
2010-08-24 10:34
On the evening of 23 August, 2010, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talked with his Philippine counterpart Foreign Secretary Romulo, over phone on the hijacking of Hong Kong tourists. Minister Yang said that 21 HK tourists were hijacked in Manila 9 a .m. on August 23. The Chinese Government attached great importance to the incident and urged the Philippine side to conduct rescue while guaranteeing the safety of the hostages. Six of the HK tourists were released before noon time after negotiations. At about 7:40p.m., the Philippine police launched an assault to free the remaining hostages. Many of the HK tourists were killed or injured.
Minister Yang said that the Chinese Government was deeply shocked by the incident, expressed grave condolences to the victimized Hong Kong compatriots and strongly condemned the atrocity by the hostage-taker against innocent tourists. The Chinese side has urged the Philippine side to launch a thorough investigation, provide detailed report to the Chinese side, exert the utmost to save the injured and properly deal with the aftermath of the incident.
The Chinese Government had sent a working team to the Philippines Philippines
Romulo said that the Philippine Government expresses deep sorrow and disappointment for the incident. He said that the Philippine Government will make every effort to save the injured, conduct a thorough investigation, disclose the results to the Chinese side as soon as possible, and provide assistances to the Chinese working team.
The two sides agreed to keep close coordination and cooperation on properly dealing with the aftermath.