An airlift carrying more than 1,000 Chinese nationals who had worked at online scam centers in eastern Myanmar began Thursday, after the rescued workers were taken across the border to Thailand and put on chartered flights to China.

A group of 200 Chinese nationals plucked from scam centres in Myanmar crossed into Thailand and were flown home on Thursday, as part of a multinational effort to repatriate hundreds caught up in massive internet fraud schemes,

China expressed appreciation on Friday for the strong steps taken by Thailand and Myanmar to dismantle scam gangs and protect the life and property of citizens from China and other countries, while pledging to safeguard the safety and well-being of its overseas citizens.