Chinese naval ships end visit to Vladivostok

VLADIVOSTOK, August 2 (Itar-Tass) - Chinese Navy squadron of ships on
Tuesday completed a visit to the home base of the Russian Pacific Fleet
(PF) in Vladivostok and left the city, the Pacific Fleet's public
relations group told Itar-Tass.
There were two ships in the detachment under the flag of Commander of
the Northern Fleet of the People's Liberation Army of China, Vice-Admiral
Tian Zhong - the Luoyang frigate and the training ship Zheng He. There are
more than 800 Chinese sailors, including more than 100 cadets of the
Dalian Naval Academy, on board.
During the four-day visit, the Chinese sailors participated in the
celebration of Russian Navy Day. On Sunday, they, along with city
residents watched a parade of warships, assault landing and staged scenes
of the Pacific Fleet history.
Chinese sailors were also guests of the missile cruiser Varyag which
in 2009 took part in an international maritime parade to celebrate the
60th anniversary of the Navy of China. Tours on the ships of the Chinese
detachment were organised for residents and guests of the city.
Schoolchildren, holidaying at the all-Russian Children's Centre Okean
(Ocean) within the international programme Children of the World were the
first to visit the ships.
The training ship Zheng He and the frigate Luoyang arrived to military
music and Russian girls in national costumes who presented bread and salt
- a symbol of Russia's national hospitality, Xinhua reported. The Admiral
Vinogradov, a large anti-submarine ship in Russia's Pacific Fleet hosted
the two Chinese ships during their visit. Chinese and Russian sailors
participated in a variety of cultural programmes, including bus tours,
sporting events and a number of formal and informal bilateral meetings.
Some Chinese sailors also visited Russia's Pacific Fleet Command.
This visit, which fell on the 315th founding anniversary of the
Russian Navy, is an important diplomatic move to tighten China-Russia
relations and the relationship between the militaries and will surely play
a strong role in consolidating bilateral relations, enhancing mutual
friendship and promoting common development. The visit aims at spreading
the idea of harmonious oceans, promoting stability of the surrounding
areas and safeguarding the environment for common development.
Chinese warships last came to Vladivostok in 2008.