BEIJING, November 28. /TASS/. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed a prisoner swap between China and the United States, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese ministry, said on Thursday.

"Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Chinese government, three Chinese citizens, who had been wrongfully detained in the United States, have safely returned to their homeland," she said, speaking at a news briefing.

The diplomat pointed out that "China will never abandon its citizens," and also spoke against "the United States’ persecution of Chinese citizens based on political motives."

Mao Ning added that "China will continue to take all necessary measures that are required for the protection of the legal rights and interests of its citizens."

The US Department of State announced on Wednesday that Washington and Beijing conducted a prisoner swap, and Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have returned to the United States from China.

US-based Politico daily reported earlier that the prisoner swap was organized under a ‘three-for-three’ formula but did not reveal the names of the Chinese nationals handed over to China by the American authorities.