BEIJING - The Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday evening that the 29 Chinese workers kidnapped last month by Sudanese anti-government forces have been released and have arrived safely in Nairobi.

"The 29 persons are currently in sound physical condition and in stable moods," the ministry said in a statement.

The 29 workers arrived in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, at 22:35 p.m. Beijing Time with the escort of a Chinese government task group and Chinese overseas diplomats, the statement said.

According to earlier reports, the workers embarked on a plane chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and left the area controlled by anti-government forces in Sudan Tuesday evening.

The freed workers will receive physical examinations and rest briefly in Nairobi before flying home, said the statement.

China expressed appreciation and sincere gratitude for the unremitting efforts made in the peaceful and safe rescue work by relevant parties,including Sudan and South Sudan, as well as related parties such as the ICRC, said the statement.

China also expressed gratitude for Kenya, the United Nations and other countries, organizations and people who extended support, assistance and concern over the issue.
A group belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)/northern sector on January 28 attacked a camp of a Chinese company operating at a road construction site in the south Kordofan state of Sudan.

A total of 47 Chinese workers were in the camp then, among whom one went missing and 29 were abducted by the assailants, while the other 17 managed to escape.
The Sudanese side handed the missing worker's body to the Chinese side on Tuesday after informing China of the worker's death.