BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed Friday that two Chinese fishing vessels were recently detained by Russia following the seizure of two fishing vessels in mid-July, adding that China is negotiating with Russia to ensure their safe return.

Spokesman Hong Lei said the two vessels were detained by border control officers in Russia's Far Eastern Primorsky Krai after entering an exclusive Russian economic zone.

The Russian side informed the Chinese side in advance, Hong said.

He said that the two foreign ministries are negotiating in a practical and cooperative manner to ensure the detained fishermen's safety and legal rights and arrange their return to China as soon as possible, Hong said.

According to the Chinese Consulate in Vladivostok, two fishing ships from East China's Shandong province were detained by Russia on July 15 and 16, respectively.