BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has expressed gratitude to Iran for its successful rescue of a hijacked China-linked freighter and the 28 Chinese crew members on board.

In a letter delivered Saturday to his Iranian counterpart Ali-Akbar Salehi, Yang said that China is ready to work with Iran to further promote the development of their friendly and cooperative relationship.

Panama-registered cargo ship Xianghuamen was hijacked on Friday morning by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Oman near Iran's southern port of Chabahar.

At an urgent request of the Chinese embassy, Iran swiftly dispatched warships to the waters and carried out a successful rescue mission.