ID :
36999
Mon, 12/22/2008 - 17:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/36999
The shortlink copeid
CHINA THANKED MALAYSIA FOR PIRATE RESCUE By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Chinese government has expressed
"heartfelt
thanks" to Malaysia after a Malaysian naval ship and helicopter thwarted a
pirate attack on a Chinese cargo ship off Somalia last week.
Chinese Ttransport Vice-Minister Weng Meng Yong conveyed the government's
appreciation to Syed Norulzaman Kamarulzaman, Malaysian ambassador to
China, on Thursday, a day after the incident.
"He expressed the heartfelt thanks of the Chinese government and the main
agencies like Transport Ministry, Foreign Ministry, the People's Liberation
Army for the quick and swift action taken by our naval forces in foiling the
attempt," Syed Norulzaman told Bernama.
"The vice-minister also expressed the desire to work closely with us,
particularly on safety navigation in sea lanes. This is a plus point in our
bilateral relations," he added.
The envoy has also forwarded the letter of appreciation signed by Chinese
Transport Minister Li Sheng Lin to Wisma Putra and the Malaysian Defence
Ministry.
Malaysia's warship, KD Sri Indera Sakti, and a military helicopter
responded
to a distress call after nine pirates boarded the Chinese cargo ship "Zhenhua
4" on Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden.
The Chinese government had contacted the Malaysia-based International
Maritime Bureau for assistance while the ship's crew barricaded themselves to
fend off the pirates.
The Malaysian helicopter fired warning shots at the pirates' boat and the
30-member crew was rescued.
The KD Sri Indera Sakti was deployed to the pirate-infested waters after
two
Malaysian commercial ships were hijacked four months ago.
China announced Saturday that it would deploy two destroyers and a large
supply vessel to boost international patrols in the Gulf of Aden, a vital
shipping route from Asia to Europe and the Americas.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, there were seven hijack cases in the
area between January and November involving Chinese ships or Chinese crew
members.
China had 1,265 commercial ships plying the route and 20 per cent of them
had come under attack, a spokesman said.
-- BERNAMA
"heartfelt
thanks" to Malaysia after a Malaysian naval ship and helicopter thwarted a
pirate attack on a Chinese cargo ship off Somalia last week.
Chinese Ttransport Vice-Minister Weng Meng Yong conveyed the government's
appreciation to Syed Norulzaman Kamarulzaman, Malaysian ambassador to
China, on Thursday, a day after the incident.
"He expressed the heartfelt thanks of the Chinese government and the main
agencies like Transport Ministry, Foreign Ministry, the People's Liberation
Army for the quick and swift action taken by our naval forces in foiling the
attempt," Syed Norulzaman told Bernama.
"The vice-minister also expressed the desire to work closely with us,
particularly on safety navigation in sea lanes. This is a plus point in our
bilateral relations," he added.
The envoy has also forwarded the letter of appreciation signed by Chinese
Transport Minister Li Sheng Lin to Wisma Putra and the Malaysian Defence
Ministry.
Malaysia's warship, KD Sri Indera Sakti, and a military helicopter
responded
to a distress call after nine pirates boarded the Chinese cargo ship "Zhenhua
4" on Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden.
The Chinese government had contacted the Malaysia-based International
Maritime Bureau for assistance while the ship's crew barricaded themselves to
fend off the pirates.
The Malaysian helicopter fired warning shots at the pirates' boat and the
30-member crew was rescued.
The KD Sri Indera Sakti was deployed to the pirate-infested waters after
two
Malaysian commercial ships were hijacked four months ago.
China announced Saturday that it would deploy two destroyers and a large
supply vessel to boost international patrols in the Gulf of Aden, a vital
shipping route from Asia to Europe and the Americas.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, there were seven hijack cases in the
area between January and November involving Chinese ships or Chinese crew
members.
China had 1,265 commercial ships plying the route and 20 per cent of them
had come under attack, a spokesman said.
-- BERNAMA
