An assault ship, frigate and replenishment vessel from China arrived in Portsmouth on Monday to enhance military cooperation between China and the United Kingdom.

Leading the welcome party was Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming who came with hundreds of overseas Chinese who now live in the U.K.

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Part of the arrival ceremony was a 21-gun salute by the arriving assault vessel Chang Bai Shan while approaching the Portsmouth Harbour entrance. In response, Fort Blockhouse, Gosport will also fire.

With Chang Bai Shan came the frigate Yun Cheng and Chaohu, the replenishment ship. The three vessels came from the port of Salalah in Oman for a five-day visit in which top officials from the two naval forces would tackle several maritime issues such as the recent counter piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.

The crew of the three ships, meanwhile, would tour the HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose and the HMS Duncan, the newest warship of the British Royal Navy which is a Type 45 destroyer.

British Naval Base Commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby, underscored the importance of the naval event. He said, quoted by itv News, "These events are not only of great diplomatic significance, but also very useful militarily given that we share similar challenges."

Rigby identified these challenges as battling piracy, conflict prevention, protection of citizens living overseas and supporting the peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations.

From Portsmouth, the three Chinese vessels will sail for Kiel, Germany.

TagsChina Navy