The Chinese side is ready to hand over to Vietnam fishing boat QNg 66478 TS and its nine-member crew in the afternoon of October 25 due to nice weather at sea.

This information was delivered by Trinh Duc Hai, deputy chief of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in the afternoon of Oct. 24.

According to Hai, officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department met with representatives of the Vietnamese embassy in China at noon on Oct. 24 and informed the Vietnamese side of its plan.

Regarding hand-over procedures, the Chinese side said it will send a fisheries administration boat to bring the Vietnamese fishermen and tug fishing boat QNg 66478 TS, which had its gear box broken down, to a sea area agreed by both sides.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry promptly informed the National Search and Rescue Committee, the Command of Border Guard force and the People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Ngai .

The National Search and Rescue Committee decided to send a rescue ship to receive fishing boat QNg 66478 TS and its crew to ensure safety for these fishermen and their property./.