China urges rescue of tourist kidnapped in Malaysia

Malaysian policemen patrol near the site of kidnapping in Sabah State, Malaysia on April 3, 2014. China on Thursday appealed to Malaysian police to rescue a Chinese national abducted on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah. (Xinhua)

China on Thursday appealed to Malaysian police to rescue a Chinese national abducted on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing that the ministry and the consulate-general in Kuching were extremely concerned by the abduction and had immediately sent staff to the site.

China urged local police to conduct a rescue operation, ensure the abductee's safety, and take measures to protect other Chinese tourists, said Hong. Malaysia confirmed Thursday that a Chinese tourist and a Filipino resort worker were abducted by a group of unknown gunmen from Pulau Singahmata near Pulau Bum-Bum in Semporna, state of Sabah of Malaysia at around 10:30pm Wednesday.