China's 'Peace Ark' hospital ship sets sail

Approved by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China, the "Peace Ark" hospital ship of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) left a military port in Zhoushan city of east China's Zhejiang province for eight Asian countries and the waters of the Gulf of Aden on June 10, 2013 to carry out the "Harmonious Mission 2013", that is, to pay visit to other countries and offer them medical service.

The "Harmonious Mission 2013" is another important military diplomatic activity organized by the PLAN after its successful "Harmonious Mission 2010" and the "Harmonious Mission 2011".

According to Shen Hao, commander of the "Harmonious Mission 2013" and deputy chief of staff of the East China Sea Fleet of the PLAN, the "Peace Ark" hospital ship will visit Brunei and participate in a joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drill of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), sail to the waters of the Gulf of Aden to make a round of medical visits to escort warships from various countries, and take part in the joint medical service and naval parade in Labuan Bajo of east Indonesia. Besides, the ship will also visit Maldives's Malé Port, Pakistan's Karachi Port, India's Mumbai Port, Bangladesh's Chittagong Port, Myanmar's Thilawa Port, Indonesia's Jakarta Port and Cambodia's Sihanoukville Port, and offer free medical service to local residents as well as Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese.

It is learnt that the "Peace Ark" hospital ship, with 71 pieces (sets) of newly-increased medical equipment, is composed of 103 medical workers specializing in 20 majors and they can perform 30-odd common operations and treat 130-odd common diseases.