Article Posted on : - May 18, 2014

Two ships of the PLA Navy, Zhenghe and Weifang, on their arrival at Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Photo: PTI.

VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): Two Chinese Navy (PLA Navy) ships on Saturday arrived at the Eastern Naval Command headquarters here on a maiden "goodwill" visit which extends to three more countries apart from India.

The ships 'Zhenghe' and 'Weifang' with Rear Admiral Han Xiaohu, Commander PLAN Training Ship Task Group, and Rear Admiral Li Jianjun, Assistant Chief of Staff and Political Commissar of PLA Dalian Naval Academy, anchored here for the four-day visit.

The visit includes interaction between personnel of both the Navies in various professional, cultural, social and sports events, according to a navy release here.

Apart from engaging in friendly basketball and football matches with the Eastern Fleet teams, the PLA Navy personnel will also visit places of interest in Visakhapatnam.

The Admirals of the PLA Navy are scheduled to call on Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Anil Chopra.

Commissioned in 1987, 'Zhenghe' is a training ship that has Commander Ye Kaihua at the helm, and the frigate 'Weifang' is commanded by Captain Zhang Zaige, the release said.

"The ships are on a good will visit to four Asian nations including Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam, and are scheduled to depart Visakhapatnam on May 20," the release added.