Chinese President Jiang Zemin Wednesday once again expressed concerns over the safety of the missing pilot, instructing the navy to search for and rescue the pilot at all price.

Jiang expressed concerns just before he left Wednesday morning for a state visit to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba and Venezuela, as well as a working visit to Brazil.

Jiang said the United States should apologize to the Chinese for this incident and bear all responsibilities for the consequence of the incident.

The president extended similar concerns Tuesday over the pilot, named Wang Wei, who parachuted after his fighter was bumped into and damaged by a US military surveillance plane Sunday morning.

The Chinese navy and the Guangzhou Marine Salvation Bureau sent salvation ships and planes to the waters to the southeast of Hainan Island, where the incident took place, immediately after the incident.

Up till 14:00 hours Tuesday Beijing time, China had sent 29 ships and 37 planes to search for and rescue the pilot. The search and rescue mission is still going on.
(Xinhua)