New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS): Wang Qi, a Chinese soldier who had inadvertently strayed into Indian territory soon after the 1962 Sino-Indian war, reached Beijing on Saturday on his way to his home in the country's Shaanxi province.

"Wang Qi and his family members arrived in Beijing a short while ago," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Saturday afternoon. 

"They were received by Chinese officials from MFA and the provincial govt of Shaanxi province," he said. 

"From our Embassy, Second Secretaries Thelma John David and Siddharth Malik were present to receive them as well. Two of our mission officials are also traveling with Wang Qi and family to their hometown."

Wang, who joined the Chinese army in 1960, strayed into Indian territory one night soon after the 1962 war. 

He was handed over by the Indian Red Cross to the Indian Army in 1963 and spent time in jails in Assam, Ajmer and Delhi before his release was ordered by the Punjab and High Court in 1969.

He finally settled at Tirodi in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district and raised a family after marrying an Indian woman.

Wang, who is now 77, has returned to his home after more than five decades.