LAGOS, June 4 (ChinaMil) -- Guided-missile frigate Yancheng, the commanding ship of the 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce, left Lagos Port in Nigeria on June 2, after its participation of the 2nd Nigeria international maritime conference and regional naval exercise hosted by the Nigerian Navy.
The 2nd Nigeria international maritime conference and regional naval exercise was held in Lagos Port and surrounding waters from May 30 to June 1. Rear Adm. Guo Hongwei, commander of the 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce, attended the international maritime conference on behalf of the Chinese Navy. Representatives from over 20 countries attend the conference, which is themed on the integrated marine strategy of the Gulf of Guinea countries.
During the three days in Lagos, Rear Adm. Guo called on Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. Guo conveyed to Ibas cordial greetings from Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong and Vice Adm. Qin Shengxiang, respectively commander and political commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and held candid and friendly talks with Ibas. Ibas said that the conference and the exercise will for sure help enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and deepen traditional friendship between the two countries, and push forward the relationship between the two navies to make further progress.
The regional naval exercise codenamed "Cooperation" was commanded by the Nigerian Navy. Eighteen ships from seven countries including Nigeria, China, France, and Portugal set sail for the designated waters on the morning of May 30.
The exercise kicked off at about 2 p.m. on the afternoon, under the unified command of the Nigerian Navy's off-shore patrol vessel NNS OKPABANA, the participating warships formed a double column first and changed various formations in sailing.
Following the ship formation drill, the eighteen warships conducted live firing practice. China's guided missile frigate Yancheng fired its auxiliary gun at sea targets with multiple shells accurately hitting the targets.
The 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce will pay an official friendly visit to Ghana after its commanding ship returns from Nigeria.
