'Peace Ark' hospital ship arrives in Tonga for medical services

The "Peace Ark" hospital ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) berthes in the Port of Nukualofa of Tonga. (Chinamil.com.cn/Ju Zhenhua)

The "Peace Ark" hospital ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) arrived at the Port of Nukualofa of Tonga, the first stop of the "Harmonious Mission - 2014", on the morning of August 13, 2014, local time, for a 7-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical services.

The "Peace Ark" hospital ship is the third Chinese naval ship to visit Tonga after the previous visits by the training ship "Zhenghe" and the guided missile frigate "Mianyang" of the PLAN.

"The purpose of this tour to Tonga, with the mission of providing medical services, is to carry forward the international humanitarian spirit, strengthen exchanges between the two militaries, and promote the view of harmony", Rear Admiral Shen Hao, commanding officer of the "Harmonious Mission - 2014", said at the welcoming ceremony.

After the welcome ceremony, the welcoming personnel of Tonga, representatives of Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese, Chinese-funded institutions and overseas students in Tonga toured the hospital ship.

During the visit in Tonga, Commanding Officer Shen Hao will meet with the deputy prime minister, the director general of the Health Department, the chief of the Defense Staff, the commander of the Royal Navy, the commander of the Royal Army and other senior military and political officials of Tonga, and receive the royal family of Tonga including the king, queen and princess, and other senior military and political officials for touring the "Peace Ark" hospital ship .

While providing various medical services, the hospital ship will also send its medical team to local hospitals to carry out surgical operations in cooperation with the medical staff of Tonga, and set up medical teams to pay rounds of visits to remote islands and islets to provide diagnosis and treatment services.

In addition, it will also send its friendship teams to local schools and centers for the disabled to give diagnosis and treatment and carry out donation activities.