Family's relief as Sydney professor is finally released by Chinese authorities

University of Technology Sydney associate professor Chongyi Feng, who was blocked from leaving China after researching human rights issues, safely returned home on Sunday morning.

Feng Chongyi reunites with his daughter. Source: supplied by AVA

UTS professor Feng Chongyi boarded a flight in the southern city of Guangzhou on Saturday night and returned to Sydney on Sunday morning, after being banned from leaving China and interrogated by authorities for longer than a week.

He was suspected by Chinese authorities of being involved in a threat to national security.

His friends and supporters from the Australian Values Alliance group welcomed the founding member at the Sydney International Airport while hailing for his safe return.

Source: SUPPLIED BY AVA

ABC reports that in a short video message to supporters recorded shortly before Dr Feng left China, the Australian permanent resident described his ordeal as "one of life's little accidents".

Returned Professor Feng Chongyi was interviewed by Australian media at the sydney airport gate. Source: supplied by AVA

After Feng was refused passage to leave China, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was unable to provide assistance for Dr Feng, a permanent resident, as he did not enter China on an Australian passport.

The university, however, said it believed the federal government was "taking the matter up."