More than 50 Chinese workers safely arrived in Baghdad via helicopter after being trapped in the intensifying conflict in northern Iraq.

Reports say that the remaining 1,200 China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) workers in the city of Samarra will be evacuated within three days via bus to Baghdad after the first bus taking them to safety was impeded by government forces outside the capital.

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During the course of the week, unrest between Iraqi government forces and Sunni Muslim militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was set off in Samarra where the Chinese workers were working on a power plant.

The 'vast majority' of more than 10,000 Chinese workers are in relatively safe areas in Iraq with only a small number in more dangerous parts of the country, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying on a daily press briefing on Thursday.

According to the Beijing-based website Caixin, most Chinese companies in Iraq are involved in the construction industry and are vulnerable to the weakening security situation in the country since they mostly rely on payments from project owners for income. CMEC workers hope to see the plant survive the unrest as they fear losing their jobs.

"China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Iraq at the request of the Iraqi side in anti-terrorism and reconstruction works. We also hope that Iraqi side could take concrete measures to ensure security of Chinese institutions and personnel," she added.

According to her, Chinese embassies in Iraq and nearby countries are working with local authorities to evacuate Chinese nationals from affected areas. Although she did not disclose whether or not China would send military personnel to assist the Iraqi government, she affirmed that they will provide assistance as much as they can.

TagsIraq, ISIS, war, Samarra, Chinese workers, evacuated, Baghdad