The HinduCadet training vessel Zheng He of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) entering the Kochi harbour on Wednesday. Photo:Vipin Chandran
Zheng He, training vessel of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) which is on a goodwill voyage around the world with stopover at ports of 11 nations en route, docked at the port here on Wednesday morning.
Rear Admiral Liao Shining, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the PLAN, is on board the visiting vessel as the Task Commander.
Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan and Chinese Defence Attaché Major General Cai Ping are in the city in connection with the arrival of the vessel.
The Chinese ship was received at the berth by Indian Navy officials, with the Southern Naval Command band in attendance.
Later, the Chinese Ambassador, accompanied by Task Force Commander, Senior Captain Jiang Guoping, Superintendent of China's Dalian Naval Academy and Captain Fan Kuizu met Rear Admiral Sudarshan Y. Shrikhande, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command and Officiating Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
Over 300 Chinese Navy soldiers and delegates from other countries are taking part in the expedition undertaken by the Chinese Navy a decade after the last such voyage. Indian Navy's Sea Cadet David Veeravalli sailed aboard the Chinese ship from Malaysia to Kochi.
On Wednesday, 30 Indian Navy cadets visited the Chinese ship berthed at the Cochin Port Trust. Earlier in the day, the Chinese navy personnel aboard Zhen He attended a briefing on the various training activities of the Southern Naval Command.
The Command also threw a reception to the visiting foreign Navy personnel at INS Dronacharya base in the evening.
In Kochi, the itinerary of the visiting ship includes mutual visits, a game of football, and a joint band performance at the Sagarika auditorium. The cadets on board the ship are also expected to visit the Indian Naval Maritime Museum at INS Dronacharya and the Navigation and Direction School at the Naval Base.
They will also go on board INS Sudarshini, Indian Navy's recently-commissioned sail training vessel.
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