Xi orders all-out efforts for rescue of capsized boat's crew

President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out search and rescue efforts after a Chinese deep-sea fishing vessel capsized on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean with a 39-member crew on board.

The crew members of Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, comprising 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian and five Philippine sailors, have been missing since 3 am on Tuesday when the incident occurred in the central part of the Indian Ocean.

In an instruction, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged relevant departments to activate the emergency response mechanism immediately, send more rescue professionals to the scene and coordinate with international maritime search and rescue teams.

He ordered that efforts be made to further strengthen the early warning system to prevent potential risks in deep-sea operations so as to ensure the safety of life and property.

In a separate instruction, Premier Li Qiang urged all-out efforts to reduce casualties and strengthen safety management of fishing vessels to ensure safer maritime transport and operations.

The capsized vessel was owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co, a major fishing company based in Yantai, Shandong province.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and Shandong province have activated the emergency response mechanism to organize rescue work.

China has deployed two vessels — the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018 and Yuan Fu Hai — to assist in the rescue operation. The Foreign Ministry has launched an emergency mechanism for consular protection, involving embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

As of press time, none of the missing people had been found and rescue efforts remained underway.

Speaking at a regular news conference on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China will continue to take all measures to search for and rescue the crew of the capsized vessel.

China appreciates Australia's timely assistance and its efforts to coordinate other passing foreign vessels to join the rescue operation, Wang said.

It is hoped that neighboring countries will work with China to continue the joint search and rescue operation, and not give up the hope of saving lives, he added.