Chinese maritime search and rescue forces are helping the search for a Russian ship which has been missing in the East China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The maritime search and rescue center of China's Ministry of Communications was informed last Thursday that a Russian boat with 17 crew went missing in sea area about 212 nautical miles east of Shanghai, according to a statement of the ministry.

The ship was traveling from Japan's Hokkaido to Hong Kong, but it failed to arrive at the destination on last Thursday as scheduled, it said.

The Chinese search center launched emergency rescue plans for the missing crew, and tried to use maritime satellite to locate the vessel, but no clues have been found.

Maritime authorities in Yantai, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hainan have coordinated vessels that are sailing in the area to assist the search. A professional rescue ship "East China Sea Rescue-No. 196" has departed for the area where the Russian boat made its last radio contact.

The foreign ministry's statement said in view of the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries and humanitarian spirit, the Chinese side will take active measures and continue the search.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2008)