In a message to Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Yang expressed appreciation to his Iranian counterpart for the country’s ‘timely’ move to rescue 28 crew members of the Chinese ship that was recently seized in international waters off the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Jask.
Yang also expressed Beijing’s readiness to further promote cooperation with Tehran.
The Chinese vessel, Xianghuamen, was hijacked on Friday morning by Somali pirates in the Sea of Oman.
The freighter, owned by Nanjing Ocean Shipping Co Ltd, was released through the successful operations of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, and nine pirates were arrested.
The vessel carried ironware and was heading towards the Iranian port of Imam Khomeini.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian naval forces have been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the international waters since November 2008 to safeguard maritime trade and, in particular, ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
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China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has praised Iran's recent move of rescuing dozens of crew members on a Chinese cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in the Sea of Oman.
News ID 181680
