Europe
12:00, 17-Feb-2019
China summons Spanish envoy over frozen accounts of Chinese citizens
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The deputy director-general of China's Department of Consular Affairs Chen Xiongfeng Friday called in the Spanish envoy in Beijing to raise the issue of the freezing of bank accounts of Chinese citizens in Spain without prior notice.
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During the meeting, Chen said that since the beginning of last year, the embassy of China in Spain has received complaints from Chinese citizens and students that banks have been arbitrarily freezing their accounts. It has happened again recently at one bank, even to Spanish citizens of Chinese origin.
Chen stressed that the Chinese embassy in Madrid is engaging actively with concerned parties to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens.
A Chinese customer of Spanish bank BBVA puts stickers with the message "Stop banking racism" on its headquarters, Madrid, Spain, February 15, 2019. /Reuters Picture
A Chinese customer of Spanish bank BBVA puts stickers with the message "Stop banking racism" on its headquarters, Madrid, Spain, February 15, 2019. /Reuters Picture
He said he expected the Spanish embassy in Beijing to deliver the message to departments that they should not take discriminatory action against Chinese citizens and to maintain the friendship and business exchanges between the two countries.
For his part, the Spanish envoy said that Spain is highly concerned about the issue raised by Chen. He reiterated that Spain does not support any laws or policies that would cause discrimination against Chinese citizens.
He stated that the Spanish Foreign Ministry has requested an explanation from the central bank of Spain and the related financial institutions over the concern raised by China. He called for close communication to settle the issue as soon as possible.
(Cover: Chinese customers of Spanish bank BBVA protest outside its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, February 15, 2019. /VCG Photo)