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Russian tax investigators have confiscated over 100 containers of shoes produced by Chinese manufacturers, with a total value of over 100 million yuan, or 12 million US dollars.

Senior Chinese commerce officials say China is making every effort to protect Chinese merchants' interests and get to the root of this incident.


"We are confused and sorry that we were not informed of anything by Russian side on this event. I've met the Russian commercial attache in China. He said he was ignorant of this event and expressed the need for a serious investigation and a response to China."

Sun Yongfu demands that Russia intensify its efforts to crack down on illegal customs clearing and give China an explanation after a thorough investigation.

He also urges Chinese merchants to make customs declaration through the normal channels with full documentation so that goods can be stored legally in warehouses without the threat of confiscation.

"We remind Chinese enterprises to operate their business according to law and declare their goods at customs with full documentations. Only their goods and business operations are legal, then can Chinese government, commerce ministry and embassy protect their business interests in Russia."

The shoes were confiscated for four days from Sunday when they were seized by Russian tax investigators from a warehouse near Moscow.

The tax invesigators claim the shoes were smuggled goods without being legally declared at customs.

Most of the shoes are produced by factories in east China's Wenzhou city.