Photo:Cui Meng/GT

Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrived at the Shenzhen Baoan Airport Saturday night after a 13-hour flight from Vancouver after she was freed by the US and Canadian authorities that found her not guilty, with no punishment in fraud charges.

Her nearly three-year detention in Canada is called by the Chinese government as purely arbitrary detention.

Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu accompanied Meng on the flight, the China Central Television reported. 

In a red dress, Meng stepped out of the plane and met with the media and cheering crowds. 

"I'm finally back home！" Meng said. "After more than a thousand days of suffering, I finally returned to the embrace of my motherland. The waiting in a foreign country was full of suffering. I was speechless the moment my feet touched Chinese soil."

It has been almost three years since Meng was arrested by Canadian authorities in December 2018. Her arrival in Shenzhen, which was also an emotional moment in the eyes of many Chinese people, also signaled the victory of a Chinese citizen who bravely confronted the West-led hegemony, and many hailed the 49-year-old senior executive as a national hero who did not yield to political persecution. 

"Looking back on the three years, I understand more that personal destiny is closely tied to the destiny of the country. The motherland is our strongest backbone and only with the prosperity of the motherland can enterprises develop steadily and the people be happy and healthy," Meng said.

"Where there is a Chinese flag, there is a beacon of faith. If faith has a color, it must be China red," Meng said.

She also said she was touched by the attention that Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches to the safety of every Chinese citizen, and thanked the government, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the strong motherland, which are all the backbone of every Chinese citizen and company.

She also affirmed to uphold the leadership of the CPC with Xi at the core, always be loyal to the country and passionate about her business, while leading the company to flourish under government rules.

"As the Chinese National Day is approaching, I wish my motherland a happy birthday in advance," Meng said.

Photo:Cui Meng/GT

The sentiment of patriotism prevailed at the scene. After the short speech, Meng waved to the crowds holding Chinese flags to welcome her at the airport, with a big smile, while singing a song for the motherland together with people at the scene.

People were still singing after Meng rode the bus to undergo epidemic prevention inspection at the request of Chinese Customs.

Groups of people, who wore protective suits, held flowers and welcome banners as they waited on the parking apron at the airport, as Chinese port cities have adopted strict epidemic prevention measures against COVID-19. Local media reports said earlier that Meng was expected to follow the 14 plus 7 days of quarantine following her arrival. 

Passengers who arrived at Shenzhen from aboard have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at quarantine hotels before being transferred to a 7-day community-administered isolation.

Earlier in the evening, the Global Times reporter saw crowds gathering at the arrival hall at the Shenzhen airport with Welcome Home banners, and they cheered on Meng's return. Some were family members and relatives of Huawei staff, while more than 30 million netizens watched livestream of her arrival. 

It was also a special day for the city of Shenzhen, and the city's landmark skyscrapers were also fully lit up in cheering on this exciting moment. The Ping'an International Financial Center, a major landmark in Shenzhen, was lit up to welcome Meng's return.

Where there is a five-star red flag, there is a beacon of faith. If faith has a color, it must be China red." -Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou said at Shenzhen airport after returning home from Canada Editor: Yang Ruoyu/GT Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT