Mogadishu: China on Tuesday said that a fishing vessel hijacked by armed men off Somalia was safely rescued Monday, warning that any attempt to disrupt ties between the two countries will fail.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Chinese Embassy condemned the hijacking as a 'blatantly vicious action' that put the crew and international shipping at risk. It emphasized that Beijing will continue to take 'all necessary means to resolutely safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and enterprises overseas' and will coordinate with relevant parties to maintain maritime security.

The embassy stated that 'any attempts to undermine or disrupt China-Somalia cooperation are bound to fail in vain,' citing a 'profound traditional friendship' between the two nations. It highlighted that China maintained close coordination with Somalia's federal and Puntland state authorities during the incident, which occurred in waters off the semiautonomous state's coast.

Mogadishu reiterated that Chinese fishing vessels operate in Somali waters with official permission and in full compliance with local laws. The diplomatic mission reported that the Somali government underlined its commitment to taking China's security concerns seriously and expressed readiness to cooperate on mutually beneficial areas, including the fishing industry.

China pledged ongoing cooperation with Mogadishu across various sectors to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.