Beijing thanks India for returning Chinese soldier after 54 years

Beijing on Monday appreciated the facilitation provided by the Indian government in sending back Wang Qi, the Chinese soldier who crossed over to India post the 1962 war.

"On February 11, through the joint efforts of China and India, Mr. Wang Qi returned to China and got back to his family. China appreciates the facilitation provided by relevant authorities of the Indian government in this process," said China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang.

Wang, now 77, was caught for entering into the Indian Territory shortly after the Sino-India War of 1962.

He was later released from jail and shifted to Tirodi village in Madhya Pradesh, where he married a local woman and settled there ever since.

He flew to China on Saturday with his wife Sushila, their son Vishnu and two other children. From there, the family would travel to his native place in Shaanxi Province to meet Wang's relatives.