“Rest assured that the rescue work is under way,” assistant foreign minister Zhai Jun told reporters at a briefing on Wen's upcoming visit to Egypt from November 6 to 8.

“For the smoothness of the rescue operation and the safety of the personnel on the ship, I will not disclose any more news.”

A Chinese coal-carrying vessel called De --in Hai was seized on October 19 by armed bandits in the Indian Ocean with 25 crew members on board.

Beijing had pledged “all-out efforts” to rescue the vessel, but has revealed little information about how it plans to do so.

During Wen's visit to Egypt, which will end with a forum in Sharm-el-Sheikh on China-Africa cooperation, he will hold talks with Egyptian leaders and the heads of some African nations, the foreign ministry has said previously.

Zhai would not comment on whether the issue of rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia would be discussed.