Chinese Navy Departs San Diego After Goodwill Port Call
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060921-14
Release Date: 9/21/2006 3:32:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Jason Thompson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships Qingdao (DDG 113) and Hongzehu (AOR 881) departed San Diego after a three-day port visit, Sept. 20.
The Chinese Navy’s port visit provided an excellent opportunity to enhance cooperation between the Chinese and U.S. navies, foster mutual understanding, and further develop lines of communication.
During the departure ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, Commander, Navy Region Southwest Rear Adm. Len Hering praised the Chinese fleet for their ambassadorship, commenting on the tremendous goodwill.
“On behalf of the United States Navy personnel that call San Diego home, and also for our civilian neighbors and friends, it has truly been a wonderful port visit,” said Hering. “It was a great opportunity to make new acquaintances and build new friendships.”
During the visit, Chinese Sailors toured USS Shoup (DDG 86) and USS Tarawa (LHA 1), took part in Morale, Welfare and Recreation tours, competed in sporting events with U.S. Navy Sailors, and planned for a bilateral Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX), a routine exercise that practices procedures for locating and saving distressed vessels and personnel.
The Chinese navy’s port visit underscored the United States' commitment to supporting ongoing cooperative efforts in the Pacific region.
“In each place visited and with every conversation, the idea was clear that navies and Sailors share many things in common, bonds that over time provide the framework for cooperation and mutual security,” said Hering. “We look forward to building on these ties, an important part to the future stability, prosperity and peace of the Asia-Pacific region.”
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