Two Chinese warships on Monday departed from Qingdao, east
China's Shandong Province, to join Australia and New Zealand navies
in the first maritime exercises to be staged by the three
countries.
The three navies will drill on communications, fleet formation,
vessel supply, and search-and-rescue during the two-day drill on
the sea off Sydney, Australia, said Major General Zhang Xuezeng of
the North China Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
Navy.
Shipborne helicopters will also drill on aerocade formation and
record the exercises on the sea with cameras, according to
Zhang.
The two Chinese warships are guided missile destroyer "Harbin"
and fuel tanker "Hongze Lake".
The fleet with 483 crew members will also visit Australia and
New Zealand.
China has so far sent 29 fleets with nearly 10,000 crew members
to visit 34 countries.
On Nov. 16, 1985, a fleet composed of one guided missile
destroyer and one fuel tanker set sail to visit Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Bangladesh, which was the first visit by Chinese fleet to other
countries after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In September 2006, the fleet also composed of the guided missile
destroyer "Harbin" and fuel tanker " Hongze Lake" paid a visit to
United States and held a joint maritime exercise with US navy.
"These visits have enhanced friendly relations between Chinese
people and armies with their foreign counterparts," Zhang said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2007)
