Chinese PLA navy ships arrive in Singapore for goodwill visit
( 2002-05-24 09:00 ) (8 )

A Global Visiting Task Group of the Chinese PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy arrived in Singapore Thursday for a four-day goodwill visit.

The task group, headed by Commander of the North Sea Fleet of the Chinese PLA Navy, Ding Yiping, is composed of the Missile Destroyer "QingDao" and Replenishment Ship "Taicang", both designed and made by China, with 506 officers and sailers on board.

On their arrival, the task group members were greeted by Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Zhang Jiuhuan, Deputy Commander of the Fleet of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Tan kai Hoe, and other representatives from the RSN.

Speaking at a brief welcome ceremony at the port, Ding Yiping said that this is the first time that Chinese PLA Navy ships made a visit to Singapore and this is also a return visit to the two visits to China by RSN ships.

He said that the visit is aimed at deepening mutual understanding, boosting mutual trust, promoting mutual exchanges and strengthening friendship between the peoples and armies of China and Singapore.

During the visit, Ding will meet with defense leaders and high- ranking officers of Singapore, and sailors of the two sides will hold a number of exchange programs and sports competitions.

The task force will also invite representatives from the Singapore military as well as the public to visit the two Chinese naval ships.

Singapore was the first leg of the ongoing voyage by the Chinese task group which set sail on May 15 against very strong wind.