MD87 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED CONFLICT AT 5700 METERS WHILE DSNDING INTO ZYTX BECAUSE OF ATC ERROR.

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WHILE FLYING; AS THE COPLT; ENRTE TO SHENYANG (ZYTX) I WAS ON THE #2 RADIO LISTENING TO THE ATIS. THE CAPT WAS ON THE #1 RADIO AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND FROM 5700 METERS TO 700 METERS. I OVERHEAD THE CAPT RESPOND TO ATC A FEW TIMES. ONCE BACK ON THE #1 RADIO; THE CAPT TOLD ME WE WERE TO CONTACT SHENYANG CTL TWR AT 118.1 AND DSND TO 700 METERS. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS A BIT EARLY TO BEGIN OUR DSCNT; HOWEVER; 700 METERS WAS THE FINAL APCH FIX ALT. I CHKED IN WITH THE TWR INDICATING WE WERE DSNDING TO 700 METERS AND IMMEDIATELY WAS TOLD TO TURN R TO 180 DEG HDG AND MAINTAIN 5700 METERS. WE COMPLIED; AND SAW TFC ON OUR TCASII; 700 FT BELOW US. THE CAPT TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND IMMEDIATELY CLBED BACK TO 5700 METERS. WE RECEIVED NO RA; ONLY AMBER FOR JUST A SECOND. AFTER PASSING THE TFC; WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE TWR AND TOLD TO BEGIN OUR DSCNT. AFTER ARRIVING AT OUR HOTEL WE WERE ASKED TO COME BACK TO THE ARPT TO MEET WITH ATC. I FEEL THE RECEPTION OVER THE RADIOS WAS VERY POOR; THEIR ENGLISH WAS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND; AND WE DID LEARN THAT THE AIR TFC CTLR WHO INSTRUCTED US TO DSND TO 700 METERS AND CONTACT TWR WAS NEW TO THE JOB OF ATC.