Chinese families of Air France victims arrive in Paris

2009-06-10 07:29:29 GMT2009-06-10 15:29:29 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

BEIJING, June 10 -- Chinese Ambassador to France Kong Quan and Air France’s CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon greeted the relatives to the missing victims at the airport. Soon the families came out with packages. Most of them wore sun-glasses, accompanied with staff from Air France and Chinese embassy.

Soundbite:Shi Jia, Xinhua News Agency’s correspondent, said: "Here is the port of arrival in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. It is 4:50 p.m. After 40 minuets, that is 5:30 p.m. local time, Flight AF125 from Beijing to Paris will land here, carrying family members of those who missed in the crashed Air France plane."

Kong told correspondent that the 18 persons are family members of the victims of Benxi Iron & Steel (Group) Co. Ltd. Kong said, the Chinese embassy to France have request Air France to be sensible, rational and fair in dealing with the aftermath of the missing Chinese nationals, and arrange well reception of the families.

Soundbite:One of family members of the Air France victims said: "The only thing I can do is to gather the families and get here. I really appreciate the embassy, they provided us many convenience during the whole procedure. Thank them so much."

Soundbite: Xu Jiangong, embassy counselor, said: "Our embassy has triggered contingency handling mechanism since the incident happened in June 1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese embassy accord great importance to the issue. We hope that Air France will treat the air crush with fairness, ration and without distinction."

Nine Chinese nationals, including an applicant for the status of investment immigrant in Brazil and a person whose identity remained unknown, were among the 228 people aboard the plane that disappeared in the Atlantic.

The Air France Airbus A330 was carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished over the Atlantic Ocean on June 1 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

These victims aboard the airplane came from 32 countries, including 58 Brazilians, 61 French, 26 Germans, 9 Chinese and 9 Italians.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Paris.

(Source: XHTV)

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