Photos of the day: Pakistan Navy is in town.

Pakistani warships visit Qingdao

(Source: China Military Online) 2011-07-20

Chinese people wave to welcome the Pakistani "Nasr" comprehensive supply ship into the port. (PLA Daily/Wang Songqi)



On the morning of July 19, the Pakistani naval ship formation composed of the "Shamsheer" guided-missile frigate (Hull No. FFG-252) and the "Nasr" comprehensive supply ship (Hull No. A-47) led by the Pakistani Navy Commodore Mohammed Amjad arrived in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, to start a four-day-long goodwill visit.

Sun Dezhong, deputy commander of the North China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), presided over a grand welcoming ceremony at the wharf, and Vice Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, deputy chief of staff of the Pakistani Navy, who arrived in Qingdao earlier, attended the ceremony. Afterward, senior officers from the Pakistani side called on Tian Zhong, commander of the North China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, and Zhang Hui, vice mayor of the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government.

The year of 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Pakistani diplomatic relations and the "Year of China-Pakistan Friendship", and the visit of the Pakistani naval ship formation to Qingdao is a part of the commemorative activities.

During the four-day-long goodwill visit, the Pakistani officers and men will visit Chinese naval ships and the Naval Submarine Academy, tour the Qingdao Beer Museum, the Olympic Sailing Center and the Mt. Laoshan among other scenic spots, and hold friendly sports activities with the officers and men of the PLA Navy. At the end of the visit, the Chinese side and the Pakistani side will hold joint maritime drills.

It is learned that the two Pakistani naval ships on visit to Qingdao were both made by China, and the "Nasr" comprehensive supply ship ever visited Qingdao in April 2009 to participate in the multi-national naval activities in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese PLA Navy.

By Wang Songqi and Zhang Gang