PLA Navy taskforce arrives in Jordan for first visit

The guided missile destroyer "Changchun" and the guided missile frigate "Changzhou" of the 17th escort taskforce of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) arrived at Port of Aqaba in Jordan at 09:00 on September 1, 2014, local time, for a 4-day friendly visit to Jordan. This is the first time for the PLAN taskforce to visit Jordan.

More than 100 people, including Commodore Qasim, commander of the Jordanian Naval Force, Gao Yusheng, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan, Dong Wenjin, Chinese military attaché, the representatives of the officials of Aqaba city, the staff of the Chinese embassy, Chinese nationals, overseas Chinese and the China-funded institutions, welcomed the ships at the wharf.

Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian, commander of the PLA Navy taskforce, and Commodore Qasim , delivered speeches respectively at the welcoming ceremony. They both said that this visit will surely push forward the China-Jordan bilateral relations and military ties and deepen the friendship between people of the two countries.

The commander of the naval taskforce and his delegation will call on the important military and political officials of Jordan and tour the naval base and ships of Jordan during their stay in Aqaba, according to sources.

The taskforce will hold a deck reception and open the ships to the Chinese nationals, overseas Chinese and Jordanian servicemen and civilians for visit.

The officers and men of the two countries will also carry out a series of recreational and sports activities such as football match.