China said yesterday it will "make every effort" to free the crew of a cargo ship held by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean - something experts said will be best done through bargaining and diplomatic efforts.

The De Xin Hai ship and its 25-member crew was carrying about 76,000 tons of coal on its way from South Africa to the port of Mundra, in Gujarat, India, when it was seized by pirates about 700 nautical miles off the Somali coastline on Monday.

It was the first time a Chinese ship had fallen into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean.