China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Chinese cargo ship was involved in an accident at sea last Saturday near Russia's far-eastern port of Vladivostok.

Russian local media reported the ship sank in a storm off Russia's Pacific Coast.

According to a press release posted on the ministry's website Wednesday, three Chinese crew members were rescued and seven others were missing.

Chinese consulate officials in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok visited the rescued sailors and offered assistance to handle the aftermath of the accident, the press release said.

China's Foreign Ministry Department of Consular Affairs and the Chinese embassy in Russia have asked the Russia embassy in China and other related Russian departments to continue rescue efforts and to investigate the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2009)