At 21:23 and 21:30, May 29, 2006, two planes of China Southern Airlines leased by the Chinese government, carrying 243 overseas Chinese and staffs of Chinese-funded organizations and 3 dependents of the staffs of Chinese embassy in East Timor safely arrived at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport. The Working Group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs returned to China by the same planes.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and the related departments of Fujian province and Xiamen city went to the airport to receive them. A short yet warm welcome ceremony was held in the hall of the airport.

A leader from the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, who also headed the working group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security in charge of receiving overseas Chinese, extended greetings to the overseas Chinese for their safe return on behalf of related agencies and noted that the Chinese government is greatly concerned of the safety of overseas Chinese in East Timor. The Chinese leaders required the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related agencies to keep a close eye on the development of the situation, be prepared for emergencies, and ensure the safety of overseas Chinese and the staffs of Chinese-funded organizations and the Chinese embassy, according to which the related department of the State Council made the decision of evacuation.

Due to the worsening situation in East Timor, the Chinese government made a decisive decision on May 27 to dispatch two charter planes to withdraw overseas Chinese there. The related agencies of the central and local governments worked closely and earnestly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a working group to East Timor to offer assistance there. Although the conditions of the Chinese Embassy in East Timor were tough, the embassy still received over 200 overseas Chinese and made proper arrangements for them.

The leader from the Department of Consular Affairs also said that the efforts of evacuating overseas Chinese from East Timor fully demonstrate the care paid by the Chinese leaders and government for overseas Chinese. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in East Timor will keep a close eye on the situation in East Timor and make their utmost efforts to protect the safety of Chinese citizens volunteering to stay in East Timor including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots.

Wang Meixiang, Vice Governor of Fujian Province extended cordial greetings to the overseas Chinese for their safe return on behalf of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, the Provincial Government of Fujian, CPC Xiamen Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government of Xiamen. Wang said that the leadership of Fujian attaches great importance to the withdrawal of overseas Chinese. Upon receiving the instruction of the CPC Central Committee, the leadership in Fujian launched the emergency response plan and worked day and night to make careful preparations. With their unremitting efforts, all the preparations were completed in a very short period of time. The Provincial Government of Fujian and the Municipal Government of Xiamen will strive to make arrangements for the early reunion of the returned Chinese with their relatives and friends and provide timely and necessary assistance according to the requirement of overseas Chinese.

It is reported that the returned overseas Chinese come from Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). The parties concerned will take them back and make proper arrangement for them.