12th Chinese naval escort taskforce visits Australia

The visiting 12th escort taskforce under the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), which is composed of the "Yiyang" missile frigate, the "Changzhou" missile frigate and the "Qiandao Lake" comprehensive supply ship, arrived at the Woolloomooloo Port of Sydney, Australia on the morning of December 18, 2012, local time, for a five-day-long goodwill visit.

Representatives from the Australian military, Chinese embassy in Australia, Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students studying in Australia held a grand welcome ceremony at the pier. Zhou Xuming, commanding officer of the taskforce, and his party paid an official call on Meader, the acting commander of the Australian Naval Fleet, on the afternoon of the very day, and the two sides carried out a warm and friendly exchange.