Related: Robbery, murder arouse concerns among Chinese in S. Africa

    BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged the South African government to bring those responsible for the recent armed robberies against Chinese citizens to justice as soon as possible.

    Huang Ping, deputy director of the consulate department of the ministry, had an urgent meeting with Vusi B. Koloane, charge d'affaires of the South African Embassy to China, according to a press release from the ministry.

    Huang told the South African diplomat that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the life and property safety of overseas Chinese citizens and is very concerned with the cases.

    "We hope South Africa will take China's concerns into full consideration, severely punish the killers according to law and take whatever measures necessary to improve the local security situation to prevent the reoccurrence of similar cases," Huang said.

    Koloane vowed that South Africa would strive to investigate in the cases and would join with Chinese police to launch an effective campaign against organized crime within the country.

    He also expressed his condolences to the victims who were killed in the armed robberies.

    Three Chinese business people were killed by armed robbers in South Africa within 36 hours last weekend; another one was killed earlier this year.

    China has already appealed to Chinese citizens in South Africa to keep alert and take necessary defensive measures.

    According to the latest official statistics, more than 40 armed robbery cases against Chinese citizens occurred in South Africa last year, resulting in eight fatalities. Enditem