On the morning of August 8, the PLA Navy’s “Shenzhen” missile destroyer which accomplished the escort task in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast arrived at the Cochin Port, India to start a 3-day-long goodwill visit under the leadership of Rear Admiral Yao Zhilou, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy.   

　　According to the schedule, the navies of the two sides will carry out a multiple of military exchanges, including a discussion on the experience of the escort in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast. The officers and men of the “Shenzhen” warship will also visit the Naval Submarine School and the Naval Aeronautical Engineering Academy of India and have a friendly basketball match with Indian sailors. 

　　Located along the coast of the Arabian Sea, Cochin is the place where the Southern Naval Command of India is situated and also a major training base of the Indian Navy.

　　More than 600 years ago, the flotilla of the Chinese navigator Zheng He ever came to this place for several times.

　　Cochin is also a major ship-building base and fishery port in India and the first aircraft carrier independently developed by India was built here.  

　　In November 2005, the Chinese naval ship formation consisting of the “Shenzhen” warship and the “Weishanhu” comprehensive replenishment ship ever paid a 3-day-long goodwill visit to Cochin. 

　　By Cao Haihua

　　(COCHIN, Aug 10, PLA Daily) 　　　　　　　　　Editor: Yang Ru