On November 19th, Acting Consul Genera of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago Mr. Huang Liming made a video speech on the issue of the murder of University of Chicago’s Chinese graduate Mr. Zheng Shaoxiong. The video has been published on CGTN. The full text of Mr.Huang’s remarks are as follows: 

We were deeply saddened and shocked to have learned that a criminal’s bullet had ended the life of Shaoxiong, an innocent and promising Chinese student who is in his prime years. His death is a loss that can never be remedied for his family. This case has drawn intensive attention from Chinese nationals in the United States including Chinese overseas students as well as their relatives in China. Not only are they extremely  pained and grieved over ShaoXiong's tragic death, their concern with the security situation in the United States also increased significantly.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to safeguarding the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. as well as the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago have been closely following this case. 

Consuls from the Consulate General in Chicago have kept close contact with Shaoxiong's parents and conveyed to them deep condolences from Ambassador Qin Gang and Consul General Zhao Jian. We have also coordinated with relevant government agencies back home to facilitate Shaoxiong’s parents’ travel to the United States at the earliest possible time.

The Consulate General have visited Shaoxiong’s parents after they arrived in Chicago and together with them attended Shaoxiong’s memorial service held in the University of Chicago. It has been a heartbroken re-union. Zheng Xiaoxiong’s mother and other family members traveled more than seven thousand miles to Chicago to take him back home. Their sorrow and misery is also strong indignation against and condemnation of the brutality of murdering the innocent. It is sincerely hoped by the Consulate that Zheng Shaoxiong’s family could stay strong and take good care of themselves. We at the Consulate will be with them, assisting them to deal with all the subsequent issues since it is our duty to protect the dignity and rights of Chinese nationals abroad.

Here I would like to emphasize that the Consulate General of China in Chicago deplores and condemns in the severest terms the brutal murder committed by the ruthless criminal. We immediately demanded the American Police to promptly bring the murderer to justice and investigate and release information about this case. The Consulate General urges the U.S. side to give a fair trial of this case and deliver justice to Shao Xiong and his family. We also urge relevant U.S. authorities to take effective measures as soon as possible to protect the safety and legitimate rights of the vast number of Chinese nationals living and working in the U.S. including Chinese students. We solemnly request the U.S. to crack down on anti-Asian and anti-Chinese crimes. The Consulate General will continue to pay close attention to the progress of this case.

Although we cannot bring back the young life of an innocent man, we hope that such tragedy will not happen again. The Consulate General hereby reminds all Chinese nationals in its consular area, especially Chinese students studying here, to pay close attention to the local security situation, further enhance safety awareness and strengthen self-protection. In case of security threats, please immediately call the U.S. police and contact the Consulate General for consular assistance.