PLA Navy commander meets with EU CTF-465 counterpart

The picture shows the scene of exchange between the commanders of the 14th escort taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) and the EU Combined Task Force 465 (CTF-465). (Chinamil.com.cn/ Liang Dong)

Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai, commander of the 14th escort taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN), and his party visited the Portuguese "Alvares Cabral" guided-missile frigate, the flagship of the EU Combined Task Force 465 (CTF-465), met with Commodore Jorge Novo Palma and held exchanges with members of his command on July 11, local time.

Commodore Palma spoke highly of the contributions that the Chinese naval escort taskforces have made for the navigation safety of various countries' merchant ships as well as the World Food Programme (WFP) vessels in the waters of the Gulf of Aden.

Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai said that it was such a pleasure to meet with commander the EU CTF-465. In this broad stretch of waters off the Gulf of Aden, this meeting enhanced mutual friendship, deepened understandings between both sides, and further expanded the areas of cooperation based on both sides' anti-piracy cooperation. Chinese taskforce is willing to actively provide escort for WFP humanitarian aid vessels in the waters off the Gulf of Aden.

During the meeting, both sides also held exchanges regarding the characteristics of piracy activities in Somali, information technology sharing and so on, and exchanged views and opinions with regards to the cooperation between the escort taskforces.

Accompanied by Commodore Palma, Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai and his party later visited the Portuguese "Alvares Cabral" guided-missile frigate of the EU CTF-465. Meanwhile, the EU CTF-465 also dispatched 8 officers to visit the "Harbin" warship of the PLAN.