2012-05-10 (China Military News cited from Xinhua) — Chinese Navy training vessel “Zhenghe ” arrived at India’s Kochin Port Wednesday, starting a four-day good will visit to the country.
Hanging both Indian and Chinese national flags, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s ocean-going training ship slowly entered Kochin Port in south western India along the Arabian Sea at around 10 am local time.
The warship is named after the great Chinese navigator Zhenghe who had come to Kochin six times more than 600 years ago. The city of Kochin is still famous for its Chinese fishing net, reflecting the deep historic link between China and India. The Cochin Shipyard is now the largest ship-building as well as maintenance facility in India, building India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.
With the upbeat music performed by the navy band of both countries, Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, Chinese defense attache Cai Ping and representatives from the Indian Navy welcomed the warship.
The commander of the warship, Liao Shining, deputy chief of staff of the PLA navy, said the main purpose of the visit is to promote the ideal of “a harmonious world and a harmonious ocean,” as well as strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two navies.
During the visit, senior Chinese officials will call on Indian Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command Rear Admiral S.Y. Srikhande, who is officiating as chief of the command in the absence of Vice-Admiral K.N. Sushil.
The Chinese naval personnel aboard the visiting ship will also drop in at the Indian Southern Naval Command’s Navigation and Direction School and the Indian Navy’s newly-inducted sail training ship INS Sudarshini.