# consular assistance

First Group of Evacuated Chinese Citizens Cross into Azerbaijan via Astara Transit Point

A first group of Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran reached the Astara transit point in Azerbaijan on 1 March 2026, where Azerbaijani officials and Chinese consular teams are preparing their onward repatriation. The move illustrates Beijing’s growing capacity to coordinate cross-border evacuations using regional partners and highlights the diplomatic balancing act inherent in such operations.