Commentary: China's speedy evacuation from Yemen demonstrates responsibility, humanism

China has evacuated hundreds of its nationals from war-torn Yemen by Monday, in demonstrating responsibility and humanistic care toward its citizens.

In the era of globalization, coupled with China's increasing presence in the world, more Chinese nationals are living and working overseas.

Before the evacuation, there were about 620 Chinese living in Yemen, including a medical team of 58 medical professionals providing aid in Yemen and hundreds of Chinese working there in such industries as oil drilling, road and bridge construction, telecommunication and fishery, who had extended precious help and contribution to the development of the Middle East country amid growing violence.

It is worth noting that the construction of a national gallery, a paradigm aid project from China started in January 2013 which engaged 161 Chinese workers, was ongoing under the protection of the Yemeni government forces until sudden worsening of the situation in the country.

However, the safety of the Chinese citizens in Yemen affects the feeling of all Chinese at home, especially when fighting and air strikes are increasing across Yemen and dialogue remains distant.

Therefore, China temporarily halted its participation in multinational patrols in the Gulf of Aden aimed at countering Somali pirates, and directed its navy fleet to rescue the stranded Chinese nationals.

Government-led overseas evacuation has become a "routine" operation when the present international situation remains tense and turbulent.

China has launched a series of massive overseas evacuations for its citizens from countries including Libya, Vietnam, Iraq, and Egypt over the past few years.

In June 2010, a total of 1,299 Chinese nationals were airlifted from riot-hit Kyrgyzstan back to Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang region.

In February 2011, the Chinese government chartered eight flights to Egypt and brought back a total of 1,848 Chinese including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as protests broke out in Egypt and the situation grew severe.

While protecting the safety of lives and property of Chinese nationals, China, a country advocating and implementing humanitarian spirit, has also helped evacuate 2,100 people of 12 other countries from Libya when bloody unrest erupted there in February 2011, in its largest evacuation of overseas Chinese nationals since 1949.

China is unwilling to see heavy casualties happen in Yemen. It is hoped that all relevant parties in Yemen would strengthen solidarity and make joint efforts to realize national stability and development at an early date. The world looks forward to a stable Yemen and the Chinese people care about the situation and development of Yemen. Endi