The employer of some 29 Chinese workers held by rebels in Sudan's volatile South Kordofan region says it has set up an emergency body to handle the situation.
Sudanese troops have freed 14 out of 29 Chinese workers held by rebels in the south, Sudanese officials say.
Wang Zhiping, a senior executive of the company, told Chinese state media that officials were "doing everything possible'' to rescue the workers.
Local media quoted South Kordofan governor Ahmed Mohamed Haroun as saying that the military "liberated" the workers, who were in good health.
The rebels said the workers were caught in crossfire with the army.
The search for the remaining Chinese workers is continuing.
They were said to be safe and "in good health".
The workers were abducted by rebels in the volatile South Kordofan region on Saturday.
"Yes, we have captured them," Arnu Ngutulu Lodi of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) told the AFP news agency on Sunday. "I want to assure you right now they are in safe hands."
Sudan's army said the rebels attacked the compound of a Chinese construction company and captured 70 civilians.
"Most of them are Chinese. They are targeting civilians," army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad told Reuters news agency.
China's foreign ministry said in a statement that the camp the workers were staying in was attacked on Saturday afternoon.
"Currently, the Sudanese government is doing their utmost to locate and rescue the missing Chinese nationals and has enhanced protection for other Chinese nationals in Sudan," said ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
South Kordofan is one of three areas hit by conflict since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July.
South Kordofan is one of three areas hit by conflict since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July.
Abyei and Blue Nile along with South Kordofan lie along the loosely demarcated border between Sudan and South Sudan.
Abyei and Blue Nile along with South Kordofan lie along the loosely demarcated border between Sudan and South Sudan.
The rebel spokesman said the workers were captured - along with nine Sudanese soldiers - after the SPLM-N attacked and destroyed a Sudanese military convoy in the area.
Sudan's army said the rebels had attacked the compound of a Chinese construction company and captured 70 civilians.
"Most of them are Chinese. They are targeting civilians," army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad told Reuters news agency.
He said the army had launched an operation to rescue them.
