—— Urges nationals in Iran to evacuate
BEIJING: China firmly opposed and strongly condemned the attack and assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and urged an immediate cessation of military operations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Sunday.
“The attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader is a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security. It tramples on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” the spokesperson said.
“We urge an immediate stop to the military operations, no further escalation of the tense situation and joint effort to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier, The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran on Sunday have reminded Chinese citizens in the country to evacuate to safe areas as soon as possible through appropriate means after US and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The embassy said that on February 28, the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran have reminded Chinese citizens in the country to closely monitor developments, strengthen personal safety precautions, and evacuate to safe areas as soon as possible through appropriate means, Global Times reported.
According to available information, several overland evacuation routes remain accessible. Chinese nationals may enter Azerbaijan visa-free via the Astara border crossing, which operates daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visa-free entry is also available through the Agarak crossing into Armenia. Overland routes into Turkey remain open through border crossings in Van, Agri and Hakkâri provinces, where Chinese passport holders are likewise granted visa-free access, according to the Chinese embassy.
Those seeking to enter Iraq may do so via the Shalamcheh border crossing, provided they obtain an electronic visa in advance or apply for a temporary visa on arrival.
Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighboring countries will assist Chinese citizens with relocation and evacuation, the embassy said. The Chinese Embassy in Israel on Sunday also issued a notice regarding the registration for relocation and evacuation of Chinese nationals in Israel after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Multiple embassies in the Middle East, including those in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iraq, have issued notices for Chinese nationals who seek to evacuate from Iran to these countries. –Agencies
