Premier Wen Jiabao called for more effective maritime rescue efforts after 1,022 stranded local and foreign fishermen were rescued in the South China Sea.

Wen said recently that the nation's maritime authorities have received much praise for successfully rescuing both domestic and foreign fishermen.

The premier urged the maritime departments to carry forward good traditions and do more to effectively deal with maritime emergencies.

The eight-day-long massive rescue operation, which ended on Nov. 30, rescued 29 Philippine fishermen and seven Vietnamese fishermen out of waters in the Nansha and Xisha Islands.

Chinese maritime rescue authorities also helped nearly 1,000 local fishermen who were hampered by tropical storm Hagibis from sailing back to supplement provisions.

China sent three rescue ships, two fishery administration ships, a helicopter and a warship to rescue the 1,022 fishermen on 52 boats.

The rescue operation also got help from passing ships from the China Shipping (Group) Company and China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2007)