China confirmed on Thursday that some of
the Chinese citizens arrested by Nigeria on charges of illegal trading
have been released. Around 70 of the 100 Chinese citizens who were
arrested for living or doing business in the country illegally have been
released, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Thursday.
The Nigerian immigration office recently arrested 45 Chinese traders in the northern city of Kano.
The 21 Chinese citizens released in Kano
on Wednesday night have been returned to China one by one, while 13
Chinese accused of illegal trading will be sent back to China soon, a
spokesman at the Chinese embassy in Nigeria told China Daily.
The embassy in Abuja and the general
consulate in Lagos have made prompt inquiries concerning the case and
visited the arrested Chinese, said the spokesman. "We have lodged
humanitarian demands to Nigeria."
For those who may face repatriation,
the Chinese embassy would continue to offer consular assistance to
protect their legitimate rights, he said.
Hong said China has urged Nigeria to
handle the case carefully according to law and would work closely with
their Nigerian counterparts to resolve the case.
Emmanuel Brisca Ifeadi, Nigeria's
state comptroller of immigration, said the Chinese arrested at the
market in Kano were "scavengers" taking jobs away from Nigerian people.
He denied this action was targeted
at Chinese residents in general, saying that Nigeria welcomes Chinese
investments and supports legitimate trade, but it prohibits those who
undercut Nigerian businesses. National law bans foreigners from the
retail sale of textiles, according to AFP.
Chinese nationals in Nigeria have
enjoyed a good relationship with local government and residents, and
China has made considerable contributions to the country through trade
in textiles and automobiles, said Wang Yusheng, former Chinese
ambassador to Nigeria.
"Given the friendly exchanges
between the two sides in the past, the recent arrest is considered a
minor incident," Wang said, adding that it could hardly escalate into a
large-scale anti-China movement in Nigeria.
The Chinese embassy has urged
Chinese citizens to become more integrated into Nigerian society by
observing local laws and communicating more with local people. There are
currently 20,000 Chinese nationals living in Nigeria.
China is a major investor in
Nigeria, accounting for some 25 percent of the country's foreign direct
investment, according to figures provided by Nigeria's trade and
investment ministry.
Some Nigerians blame Chinese imports
for the decline of local textile mills, though chronic power shortages
are at least as much to blame.
To protect local people's employment
and some industries, Nigeria has carried out quota control on foreign
employees. It also has put a ban on textile imports to protect its
domestic industry.
Reuters and Xinhua contributed to this story
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