Chinese naval fleet visits Vietnam to boost naval ties

A Chinese naval fleet arrived at the Cam Ranh Port in central Vietnam on Saturday for a five-day visit to the country to promote military ties between the two sides. The 23rd Chinese naval escort task force comprises command vessel Xiangtan, missile frigate Zhoushan and supply ship Chaohu. The visit to Vietnam is the last stop of the fleet on their way home after completing escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia and visiting Myanmar, Malaysia and Cambodia, said Senior Colonel Wang Hongli, commander of the task force, while addressing the media. The navies of China and Vietnam have strengthened communication and cooperation in recent years. The two navies have held joint patrols in the Beibu Bay 20 times, during which joint exercises and mutual visits were conducted, Wang said.