Navies seeking better ways to battle pirates

With negotiators continuing to seek the release of 25 Chinese sailors held hostage by Somali pirates, China is today hosting representatives from many of the world's navies in the hope of better coordinating anti-piracy efforts off Africa.

Naval representatives from Russia, Japan, the European Union and NATO will be among those at the two-day forum, which follows an international meeting in August with the same theme, the Ministry of National Defense told China Daily yesterday.

Attendees will discuss clarifying areas of responsibility in the Gulf of Aden and try to find "the best formula of international cooperation" for escorting vessels through the pirate-infested region, said the ministry.