China reiterates protection for foreign citizens' legal rights

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China always welcomes foreign citizens, including Americans, to travel to China and will always protect their safety and legal rights, such as freedom of entry and exit.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the comments on Friday in a regular press briefing, while addressing a question about the travel advisory recently issued by the U.S. State Department against China.

The advisory asked American citizens to "exercise increased caution in China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, as well as special restrictions on dual U.S.-Chinese nationals."

It also accused China of prohibiting U.S. citizens from leaving China by using "exit bans".

While reiterating China's commitment to protecting foreign citizens' legal rights, Lu also urged foreigners in China to respect and follow the country's laws.

China's law enforcement authorities have always impartially handled cases involving the tiny minority of foreign nationals who are suspected of crime in China in accordance with its laws, and their legitimate rights have been protected as well, Lu stressed.

"From January to November 2018, 2.3 million visits were made by American citizens to China," Lu pointed out, adding that the number of Americans out of every 10,000 that travel to China far exceeds that from China to the U.S..

He also said it is the U.S. that has made excuses in recent years to stop Chinese citizens from entering the country or impose unnecessary checks on them.