China has praised a Cambodian decision to deport 20 ethnic Uighurs who had sought asylum after fleeing unrest in China's troubled western region of Xinjiang.
In a statement the Chinese foreign ministry welcomed the move as a model of international cooperation and said the deportees would be treated "in accordance with the usual practices".
The 20 Uighurs were deported on Saturday on a flight back to China, in a decision that was criticised by human rights groups and the US government.
The Cambodian government said the Uighurs were being deported for breaking immigration laws and entering Cambodia illegally.
The decision came ahead of a visit to Cambodia on Monday by Xi Jinping, China's vice president. Cambodian officials are hoping the visit will boost commercial ties with China, which is already Cambodia's biggest single investor.
Nine executed over ethnic Uighur unrest in Xinjiang - France24