China to protect rights of overseas citizens

China will do everything possible to protect the legitimate rights of its citizens overseas, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Sunday.[Special coverage]

Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Last year, Chinese people made more than 100 million outbound visits. There are over 20,000 Chinese enterprises doing businesses overseas, as well as millions of Chinese nationals working and living in different parts of the world, the minister said, adding that China is concerned with all their safety and well-being.

The Foreign Ministry has set up an around-the-clock hotline to provide consular protection services for Chinese nationals. They could dial 12308 if they need assistance, the minister said.

Chinese embassies and consulates have received more than 30,000 phone calls worldwide for half a year since the hotline was opened, he said.