Chinese Naval Warships visit Durban on 4 April 2011
2011/03/29
At the invitation of the South African Navy, two Chinese Naval Warships, FFG (guided missile frigates) "Zhoushan" and FFG "Xuzhou" of the Chinese PLA Navy 7th Escort Task Force, will visit the Port of Durban from 4 to 8 April 2011.
A welcome ceremony hosted by the South Africa Navy will be held at the Port of Durban on 9:00 AM on Monday, 4 April 2011. The two Chinese FFGs will be open to the South African public from 4 to 6 April 2011. Friendly exchange actvities will also take place between the two navies during the visit.
(FFG "Xuzhou' performing escorting mission in the Mediterranean)
The 7th Escort Task Force was dispatched by the Chinese government last November to perform the escorting mission in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) and waters off Somalia. Their main task was to ensure the security of Chinese vessels and personnel transiting GOA and waters off Somalia and provide protection for chartered vessels working for international organizations like WFP.
While undertaking the mission in GOA, the 7th Escort Task Force conducted safe escorting for 38 batches of convoys with 578 MVs (merchant vessel), took over and escorted 1 attacked MV, rescued 1 boarded-and-attacked MV, rescued 7 pirate-chased MVs for 4 times (including rescuing 4 Chinese MVs twice, 3 foreign MVs twice).
FFG Xuzhou was also dispatched to Libya to perform the escorting mission for Greek Passenger Liner "VENIZELONS" which carried 2142 besieged Chinese personnel evacuated from Libya.
In August 2000, Chinese navy missile destroyers "Shenzhen" and "Nancang" visited South Africa and The Spioenkop of the South African navy visited Shanghai in October 2008 as a part of the yearlong celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of China-South Africa diplomatic relations.
South Africans intertested in visit FFG "Zhoushan" and FFG "Xuzhou" can contact the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria (Mr. Zhang Hao @ 0839283073) or Chinese Consulate General in Durban (Mr. Li Jun @ 0761742938)
