Date: Mar 01, 2003
Contact: Timothy Cooper
Tel: 202-361-0989

CHINESE DISSIDENT MS. Zhang Qi WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO LEAVE CHINA ON MARCH 1 AND HAD JUST ARRIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AS OF 10:00 PM ESTAFTER BEING UNDER HOUSE ARREST UPTILL YESTERDAY. FREE CHINA MOVEMENT WELCOMES HER RETURNING TO AMERICA AND CONDEMNS PRC'S KEEPING HER AS HOSTAGE IN THE ATTEMPT TO "SENTENCE" DR. WANG BINGZHANG

Washington, DC --- After so-called "appeals court" in Guangdong province had upheld the life sentence of Dr. Wang Bingzhang after the original sentence was imposed on him on February 10, Ms. Zhang Qi was finally allowed to leave China via Hong Kong and has just arrived in New York city tonight.

Ms. Zhang Qi was Dr. Wang's assistant and had traveled to Vietnam along with Dr. Wang Bingzhang and Yue Wu in June 2002. She was brought to China cross Vietnamese boarder when Dr. Wang and Yue Wu were forcefully kidnapped into China from Vietnam.

Her sister Ms. Yan Qinxin, general sectary of Federal China Provisional government preparatory committee founded on February 12, 2003 and leaders of Free China Movement at New York City greeted Ms. Zhang Qi. She cried out at the first breath of freedom in the air that she has been deprived of by Communist terrorism regime since 240 days ago. She passed her appreciation to all media who have followed their kidnapping story and have assisted in her final release. She also thanked US Consulate in Chengdu and State Department for their consistent effort to secure her freedom. She also thanked Free China Movement and all other people who have expressed their support during last 8 month of "life in hell".

Ms. Zhang was allowed to leave China before Dr. Wang's train and sentence because the terrorism regime in Beijing how conducted this international cross board kidnapping knows very well that once Ms. Zhang were allowed to go back to USA she will reveal a lot of facts surrounding the kidnapping by the Chinese communist terrorism regime and it would be harder for the regime to put up a show case trial of Dr. Wang with fabricated evidence and conspired charges. Ms. Zhang will take some needed rest for few days and will have a press conference preliminarily schedule at Wednesday next week at National Press Club in Washington DC. Ms. Zhang Qi will also join Christine Wang, daughter of Dr. Wang to lobby Congress starting next week on Dr. Wang's behalf.

Mr. Yue Wu and Fang Yuan, two witness of the kidnapping case are on the way to join Ms. Zhang next week and will speak at the planned press conference to reveal all the details surrounding the notorious kidnapping by a government who is persecuting political opponents under "terrorism" charge.

For more information, please contact Timothy Cooper at 202 361 0989 regarding the press conference and the lobbying by family members and colleagues of Dr. Wang within Free China Movement.

Released by Free China Movement