On July 10, the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo and the comprehensive replenishment vessel Honghu attached to the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce berths in Port Casablanca, Morocco. Sailors assigned to the taskforce man the rails at the deck and wave to the welcoming crowd. (Photo by Liang Lei)
CASABLANCA, Morocco, July 11 -- On July 10, the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo and the comprehensive supply ship Honghu attached to the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce made a technical stop in Casablanca, Morocco, for a five-day replenishment and rest.
At around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, local time, the ships Jiaozuo and Honghu, decorated with the national flags of China and Morocco, steadily pulled into Port Casablanca, Morocco. More than 300 people, including Moroccan military representatives, local people, staff of the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions and overseas Chinese, came to welcome the taskforce. After the ceremony, the welcoming crowd boarded the ships in batches for visits.
During the port call, the two ships will mainly replenish fuel, potable water and foods. They will also conduct ship open day and deck reception activities. The navies of the two countries will hold cross-deck visits, military exchanges and bilateral joint training.
This is the third time for Chinese naval taskforces to dock in Morocco. According to the mission plan, while the ships Jiaozuo and Honghu are in replenishment and rest, the guided-missile frigate Xuchang attached to the taskforce continues the escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.
