英语文摘:Plane carrying Chinese nationals returns to Beijing from Cairo

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A plane carrying Chinese nationals who were stranded in Egypt arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport Tuesday afternoon.

The plane, operated by the Air China International Corporation, arrived in Beijing at 16:50 p.m. Bejing time. The second plane, operated by Hainan Airlines, will arrive in south China's Guangzhou city later Tuesday.

The two planes carry a total of 480 Chinese nationals.

"China has attached great importance to safety of the stranded Chinese nationals since demonstrations and protests broke out in Egypt on Jan. 28," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular news briefing.

Hong said China has taken a package of emergency measures including warning against travel and an around-the-clock hotline to provide consular protection and assistance for the Chinese nationals.

The spokesman said that a working taskforce, composed of officials from China's Foreign Ministry, National Tourism Administration, Ministry of Public Security and Civil Aviation Administration, are currently working with the Chinese embassy in Cairo to provide assistance to stranded Chinese in Egypt and to try to facilitate their early return to China.