US commander visits South China Sea Fleet

Admiral Cecil D. Haney, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, paid an official call on Jiang Weilie, commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN), at the office building of the South China Sea Fleet on the afternoon of May 30, 2013. Accompanied by Vice Admiral Jiang Weilie, Admiral Harney inspected the guard of honor and took a group picture to mark the occasion. Afterwards, the guest and the host held cordial and friendly talks.

During the talks, Jiang Weilie, commander of the South China Sea Fleet, expressed warm welcome on behalf of all the officers and men of the South China Sea Fleet to Admiral Harney and the U.S.S. Shiloh (CG 67). In recent years, the navies of China and the United States have launched a series of pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with remarkable results, which has increasingly deepened and developed the friendly relationship. Jiang Weilie expressed that the South China Sea Fleet is willing to work together with the U.S. Navy to continue to strengthen maritime exchange and cooperation, push forward the establishment of a harmonious ocean, maintain regional security and stability, and promote common prosperity and development. He sincerely wished that the friendly relations between China and the United States and the two militaries, especially the navies of the two countries, will continue to deepen and expand.

Admiral Haney, on behalf of the visiting officers and men, thanked the South China Sea Fleet of the PLAN for its warm reception. He briefly introduced the situation of the visiting US warship and fully affirmed the achievements made by the Chinese Navy in their escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast, as well as that made in the mutual military exchanges. He hoped that the Chinese Navy and the US Navy would continue to maintain good communication, exchange and cooperation, so as to improve mutual trust constantly and strengthen cooperation.

After the talks, Jiang Weilie and Haney exchanged souvenirs. On the evening of that day, Haney and his party also attended the welcome reception hosted by Jiang Weilie.

Accompanied by Commander Jiang Weilie, Admiral Haney and his party visited a marine brigade under the South China Sea Fleet and observed the display of marine equipment and the demonstration of basic subjects on the morning of May 31, 2013. In the afternoon, they also visited the "Lanzhou" guided missile destroyer, the "Hengyang" guided missile frigate and the "Changbai Mountain" amphibious dock landing ship under the South China Sea Fleet. In the evening, Jiang Weilie was invited by Admiral Haney to attend the reception held on the deck of the U.S.S. Shiloh.