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Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou freed by Canada arrives home in China

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Ms Meng, pictured on arrival in China, had been accused of fraud by US prosecutors

A Chinese tech executive released after being detained in Canada for nearly three years has returned home.

Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou flew to Shenzhen on Saturday evening, hours after two Canadians freed by China had gone back.

In 2018 China accused Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig of espionage, denying detaining them was in retaliation for Ms Meng’s arrest.

The apparent swap brings to an end a damaging diplomatic row between Beijing and the West.

Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig arrived in the western city of Calgary just before 06:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and were met by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ms Meng touched down in Shenzhen, China, a couple of hours later, greeted by crowds shouting: “Welcome home Wanzhou!”

She was wanted on charges in the US but was released after a deal between Canada and US prosecutors.

Michael Kovrig (r) and Michael Spavor had been held since 2018

Critics have accused China of using the two Canadians as political bargaining chips.

The pair had maintained their innocence throughout. At a news conference on Friday, Mr Trudeau said they had been through “an unbelievably difficult ordeal”.

“It is good news for all of us that they are on their way home to their families,” he added. “For the past 1,000 days, they have shown strength, perseverance, resilience and grace.”

The two men were accompanied on their return by Dominic Barton, Canada’s ambassador to China.

Before her release, Ms Meng – the daughter of Ren Zhengfei, the billionaire founder of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei – admitted misleading US investigators about Huawei’s business dealings in Iran.

She spent three years under house arrest in Canada while fighting extradition to the United States. (BBC)

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