Chinese workers who escaped after being abducted arrive at Khartoum Airport Jan 30, 2012. The Chinese embassy in Khartoum said though 17 Chinese workers were taken to safety by the Sudan army after they escaped the rebels, another 29 were still held by rebels.[Photo/Agencies]

KHARTOUM - 34 Chinese workers on Monday arrived in Khartoum after the camp of their company, which operates in field of road construction at South Kordofan State, was attacked by rebels.

The returning group included 17 Chinese nationals working at a camp near Al-Abbasiya town in South Kordofan that was attacked by Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)/ northern sector, while the others are working at another camp.

Another group of 12 Chinese, working for the same company which is constructing a circular road in South Kordofan, is expected to arrive later in the day.

Chinese ambassador to Sudan Luo Xiaoguang and a number of Sudanese officials received the returning Chinese workers upon arrival at Khartoum airport.

Luo, speaking to reporters, expressed thanks and appreciation for Sudan government's efforts to help the Chinese workers and urged Khartoum to continue and intensify the search for the missing Chinese workers.

"This incident is individual and does not affect the bilateral ties between Sudan and China", said the ambassador, describing China-Sudan relations as "strong".

A group of SPLA-N on Jan 28 attacked a site of a Chinese company operating in field of roads in South Kordofan State.

South Kordofan, located on the Sudan-South Sudan border, has been witnessing armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the SPLA's northern sector since June last year.

It is to be noted that when the rebels attacked the camp of the Chinese company, there were 47 Chinese workers, 29 of them were abducted and 18 fled to neighboring areas, where the Sudanese army found 17 of them and transferred them to a safe area while one is still missing.