Smooth sailing for maritime rescue

Thousands of foreign citizens saved at sea in the last decade

Thousands of foreign nationals stranded at sea have been rescued by Chinese search and rescue ships in the 10 years since the overhaul of the system.

Wang Zhenliang, director of the rescue and salvage bureau under the Ministry of Transport, told China Daily in an exclusive interview that more than 5,300 foreign citizens and 347 foreign ships were rescued by Chinese maritime officers from 2003 to 2012.