China´s quarantine measures "proper and necessary"

Source: China Daily | 05-05-2009 21:14

BEIJING, May 5 -- China and Mexico Monday agreed to send chartered flights to each other's countries to fetch their citizens, dampening a row that stemmed from Beijing's quarantine of Mexican nationals in the country amid the global H1N1 flu outbreak.

Chinese ambassador to Mexico Yin Hengmin (R) says good-bye  to Chinese citizens waiting for boarding at Benito Juarez  international airport in Mexico City, capital of Mexico,  May 5, 2009. A total of 79 Chinese citizens left Mexico  City early Tuesday aboard a chartered flight sent by the  Chinese government. The plane took off from Mexico City,  heading towards Tijuana, northern Mexico, to lift 20 more  Chinese before returning to China. (Xinhua/David De la Paz)

On Sunday, China Southern Airlines canceled a chartered flight meant to pick up more than 200 Chinese citizens stranded in Mexico as it could not secure landing permission from Mexican airports.

The plane finally left Guangzhou for Mexico City at 10 p.m. Monday and is expected to return to Shanghai at 9 am Wednesday, the airline said.

The Mexican government Monday accused China of singling out its citizens for forced isolation despite the fact they showed no symptoms of the virus.