BEIJING, July 30 - RAPSI. Russian and Chinese authorities have resolved a dispute over the arrest of Chinese squid poachers, and have agreed to establish procedures for cooperation at sea, the allocation of quotas, and the issuance of compensation, according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry diplomat Hong Lei Monday.
In July, Russian frontier guards detained four fishing ships trespassing on Russian exclusive economic zone in the Far East.
The most high-profile was the incident on July 16 when, after a long pursuit and live fire, the Dzerzhinsky patrol gunboat seized a Chinese ship in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) carrying 22.5 tonnes of poached squid. When the ships collided, a fisherman fell overboard. He still has not been found.
According to Chinese diplomat Hong Lei, both parties were prompted to resolve the situation by way of the need to preserve friendly relations between the two countries.
Thanks to joint efforts, the parties have arranged the return of the Chinese sailors back to their home country, said the diplomat.