BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese fishing vessel kept by Japan has been released, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a press conference here Thursday.

    The fishing vessel was detained Monday in Japan's exclusive economic zone because the shipmaster failed to present certificates showing his identification.

    China and Japan have properly handled the case in accordance with bilateral fishing agreement and common practice, Liu said, adding that the fishing vessel and the crew have all been set free.

   China, Russia to cooperate in water pollution issue

    China and Russia have both pledged to cooperate closely to handle the pollution of the Songhua River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Liu said at the press conference.

    China was very concerned about possible hazards to Russia and has informed its neighbor several times of the pollution, he said.

    On the morning of Nov. 24, the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) elaborated the details of the pollution to the Russian embassy in China, including various test results.

    Zhang Lijun, deputy director general of SEPA said China would keep Russia informed at all times about the monitoring results of the polluted stretches of Songhua River.

    The two countries are setting concrete arrangements to open a hot line for better contact and communication over the water problem.

    China is now making every effort to strengthen the monitoring and control of water quality of the Songhua River with the hope of minimizing the possible hazards, Liu said.

    The Songhua River, a tributary of the Heilongjiang River which is called the Amur when it crosses the border, is contaminated by benzene due to a massive petrochemical plant explosion on November 13.

    Japan's constitution revision

    Asked to comment on the constitutional revision draft presented by Japan's ruling party, Liu Jianchao said that some Asian countries are much concerned about the revision of Japan's constitution.

    Japan's pursuance of peaceful development is not only in its own interest, but also conducive to safeguarding regional peace and stability, he said.

    The Liberal Democratic Party, Japan's ruling party, presented on Tuesday a revised draft to the country's current pacifist constitution.

    In the draft, Japan's Self-Defense Forces were renamed Self-Defense Military and the words that deny Japan's possession of military forces and the right of belligerency of the state were deleted.

     Premier Wen to visit 5 countries in Europe, Asia     

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will pay official visits to France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Malaysia from Dec. 4 to 15, Foreign Ministry announced.

    Premier Wen will also attend the ninth Summit between China andthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ninth ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea Summit and the First East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur, said Liu at the regular press briefing.

    Wen was invited by French Prime Minister Dominique Galouzeau deVillepin, Slovakian Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Liu said. Enditem