BEIJING - China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that 12 Chinese were killed and one remains missing after two cargo ships, the Hua Ping and Yu Xing 8, were attacked and hijacked by an unknown group of armed men on the Mekong River on October 5.

According to a report from the consulate general in Chiang Mai, the body of another Chinese sailor was found on October 11 with the assistance of Thai police. China and Thailand have maintained close communication and cooperation in handling the incident.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular press briefing on October 11 that a working group dispatched by Yunnan Province has arrived in Chiang Saen to assist the Chinese embassy in Thailand and consulate general in Chiang Mai in dealing with the aftermath of the incident.

He said that both China and Thailand attach great importance to the incident. The Chinese embassy in Thailand has repeatedly asked the Thai side to make every effort to investigate the incident and inform China of the results, facilitate the investigation and offer necessary assistance to Yunnan's working group and take action to ensure the safety of Chinese cargo ships and sailors stranded in Chiang Saen.

Thailand said it will fully cooperate with China and do its utmost to ensure safety on the Mekong River in order to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, Liu said.

China has also asked Myanmar and Laos to help investigate the incident.