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Chinese ship rescued in Gulf of Aden, pirates retreat

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-17 18:55

BEIJING -- A Chinese ship was rescued after multi-national soldiers forced retreat of pirates in the Gulf of Aden at 16:45 (Beijing time) on Wednesday.

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Helicopters were dispatched by the multi-national forces for the rescue operation.

The ship, "Zhenhua 4" registered in Saint Vincent, was attacked by pirates at 12:43 p.m. (Beijing time) on Wednesday. Thirty Chinese sailors were aboard the ship.

The hijack came just hours after China said it was "seriously considering sending naval ships" to the waters off the Somali coast to fight against rampant piracy.

"China is seriously considering sending naval ships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast for escorting operations in the near future," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said Tuesday in the United Nations.