The State Department announced the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. A U.S. government official told NBC News the three were exchanged for two Chinese detainees.

Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration.

The three US nationals were swapped for four people, including three Chinese citizens who were returned to China. View on euronews

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung have been released from detention, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

By Simon Lewis, Trevor Hunnicutt and Colleen Howe WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) -China and the U.S. have each released three citizens both governments said were wrongfully detained in the other country,

Americans Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung are en route back to the United States from imprisonment in China, the White House said.

The exchange was reportedly months in the making, and included the release of at least one Chinese citizen in US custody.

China released three American detainees Wednesday after striking a deal for a prisoner exchange with the Biden administration.