The seven Chinese citizens detained illegally by Japan have returned safely to China after the Chinese government's repeated protests, said sources from the foreign ministry Friday night.

The citizens were detained Wednesday by the Japanese coastguard after landing on the Diaoyu Islands, which have been China's territory from ancient times.

Earlier Friday, officials from the Chinese embassy to Japan visited the group in Naha, Okinawa, and made arrangements for their return.

The 7 detained Chinese arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 21:18 (Beijing Time) Friday on China Eastern Airlines flight MU 88.

The seven Chinese citizens, including Feng Jinhua and Zhang Likun, landed on the islands at 06:26 on Wednesday after they left a port in east China's Zhejiang Province at 1?AM Tuesday by boat.

China has lodged several protests to Japan over the illegal detention.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan?expressed that China and Japan should work together to properly handle the problems existing between the two countries to push forward healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

Kong said that the Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory from ancient times over which China has indisputable sovereignty.

It is a fact that China and Japan have disputes over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, he said, adding that the Chinese government has always advocated resolving the issue through negotiations.

Kong said that seven Chinese citizens had been detained illegally after they had landed on the Diaoyu Islands on March 24,and they had suffered inhumane treatment during the detention.

This is a serious infringement of China's territorial integrity and the human rights of the Chinese citizens, Kong noted, adding that China expresses strong indignation.

He said that China has attached importance to Sino-Japanese relations, and would like to develop the relationship.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2004)