China Focus
China's team in Haiti provides help to all
By Chen Weihua and Huo Yongzhe (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-01-22 14:31
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China's team in Haiti is playing a pivotal role in rescuing people from all nations and offering security and sanctuary to citizens trapped in the shattered country.
China Daily reporters Chen Weihua and Huo Yongzhe have conducted an exclusive interview with Wang Shuping, chief representative of China's trade office in Haiti.
Q: How many Chinese people are still in Haiti and what have you done to assist them?
A: By the end of today, we have successfully established contact with 53 Chinese people who are still in the shattered country, one of whom is from Taiwan. Among them, 48 are willing to return to China, and one from the multinational company Ericsson plans to stay longer when the security situation turns stable. Another four were deployed to a safe place but soon left without notifying us. We are now trying to contact them. We will try to assist those who are willing to return soon on a chartered flight.
A: Immediately after the quake, we brought 11 employees of the China Zhongxing Corp, a hi-tech Chinese telecom company, to a safe place. Later, we sent them to the airport so they could return to China by way of a charted plane via the Dominican Republic. The second thing we did was to gather as much information as possible on all the Chinese in Haiti. Before the temblor occurred, we only had information about 20 Chinese people. The number has more than doubled. Using information provided by domestic sources, we tried to contact more possible Chinese in Haiti, but the attempts are sometimes blocked because of limited telecommunications.
What we also did over the past several days was to provide not only security guarantees, but also information about self-dependence for those Chinese in dangerous areas. Because the telecommunications service is not stable, keeping in solid contact is sometimes difficult. We are striving to guarantee the safety of Chinese in Haiti by way of arranging them a timely return to China.
Q: What kind of role can China play in Haiti's reconstruction?
A: It is a little bit early to tell much about post-quake reconstruction, and the focus remains on disaster relief. But China is willing to offer help and build friendship with Haiti. We are exploring the avenues of reconstruction.
Q: Earlier news reports said that some Taiwanese have sought help. What was the situation and what progress has been made in that area?
A: One Taiwanese person who runs the sole Chinese restaurant in Port-au-Prince came to visit us after the quake for help. We will arrange him to join other Chinese going back to China as soon as possible, probably in a matter of days.
Q: There are reports about possible cooperation between the rescue team from the mainland and one from Taiwan. How are those joint efforts faring?
A: We tried to approach the Taiwan rescue team and develop joint rescue efforts to create a picture of joined hands in a third country. Unfortunately, we got no response. In fact, we sent team members to Taiwan's "embassy" in Port-au-Prince when a Taiwanese person came to us asking for help for the troubled "Taiwan ambassador" when the temblor hit on Jan 12, but he was out of the trouble when our team arrived. However, we will continue to provide necessary and timely assistance to Taiwanese people in Haiti. Once we find they are in trouble, we will come to help. Blood is thicker than water.
