CHINA RESUMES USSR SHIP REPAIRS AFTER 23 YEAR GAP China has resumed repairs of Soviet ships after a 23 year break caused by the ideological split between the two countries. The New China News Agency said an agreement to resume the business was signed by the two sides on Wednesday in Shanghai, where three Soviet commercial vessels were being repaired. The China Daily said the first two Soviet ships to be repaired in China since 1964 left the ports of Dalian and Xingang last month. Bi Yueran, managing director of China State Shipbuilding Corp's ship repair department, told the newspaper the Soviet Union lacked adequate repair facilities for the more than 600 ships deployed in the far east. Bi said China's yards offered competitive prices, guaranteed quality and prompt delivery.