Chinese warships dock in Havana for weeklong visit; sailed from Florida
Three Chinese warships arrived Tuesday (Nov. 10) to the Port of Havana to pay a five-day visit to Cuba in the context of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the newspaper Granma reported on Wednesday.
At the entrance to the Bay of Havana, a ship of the Cuban Revolutionary Navy gave a maritime welcome to the trio of ships, the first group of Chinese war vessels to visit Cuba. Their arrival had not been previously announced.
The ships are the 7,000-ton destroyer Jinan (DDG-152), the 4,050-ton frigate Yiyang (FFG-548) and the 23,000-ton replenishment ship Qiandaohu (AOR-886).
The flotilla’s commander, 1st Capt. Wang Jian Xun, said that the presence of the Chinese ships on the island represents the feeling of brotherhood between the two countries.
“We are brothers, friends and partners,” he told Granma. “The friendship between China and Cuba is firm and fraternal. In the past 55 years, we have shared the same ideals and goals.”
Chinese sailors will exchange experiences with their Cuban counterparts to promote cooperation and trust between the two armed forces, said Wang, who is also deputy Chief of General Staff of the East Sea Fleet. “Together, we will play a more active role in safeguarding world peace,” he added.
In welcoming the delegation of the Asian giant, the second-in-command of the Cuban Navy, Capt. Moreno Idalberto Feria, said that this first visit by Chinese warships will help to consolidate the links between the two nations’ navies, governments and peoples.
The Chinese ambassador in Havana, Zhang Tuo, said that relations between Cuba and his country are going through the best period in history and added that the presence of the three vessels is a reflection of that.
During their stay in Havana, the crews will visit the Armed Forces Ministry, and tour places of historic and cultural interest.
Havana residents may tour the ships Wednesday, the daily Granma announced.
CHINESE VESSELS SAILED FROM FLORIDA
The three ships that arrived Tuesday in Havana had conducted a joint drill with U.S. warships off the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., last Saturday (Nov. 7), the Chinese Defense Ministry pointed out in a communiqué.
It was the first exercise of its kind between the two navies and wrapped a goodwill visit of the Chinese vessels to the United States.
U.S. Navy participants were the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mason and USS Stout as well as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey.
The daylong exercise simulated a search-and-rescue mission for two wrecked boats.
The Jinan and Yiyang also practiced formation changes such as line abreast and single column with three U.S. vessels, the Chinese press release said. The Qiandaohu joined the exercise later and the six naval vessels formed a maritime cordon formation.
[Photo at top of The DDG-152 Jinan of the East Sea Fleet, a 7,000-ton destroyer.]
