TWO Chinese navy vessels, the FFG (guided missile frigate) Zhoushan and the FFG Xuzhou of China's 7th Escort Task Force, docked in Durban on Monday, 4 April 2011, for a friendly visit that comes after concluding anti-piracy duties off the Somalia coast.

Seghers South African Navy Chief of Staff Major General, the Chinese ambassador to South Africa Zhong Jianhua and Embassy staff, Chinese-funded institutions officers, representatives of overseas Chinese and students, and nearly 400 representatives of the South African naval officers and men to the pier meet.

The 7th Escort Task Force was dispatched by China last November to conduct missions in the Gulf of Aden and in waters off Somalia.

During the visit, Major General Zhang Huachen, commander of the formation leader, will call on South African Navy, South African Navy fleet will introduce the implementation of the Gulf of Aden waters off Somalia to escort missions, and to carry out mutual visits with the South African Navy, sports and other recreational activities "Zhoushan" number and "Xuzhou" was also open to visits to the local population.

Major General Zhang Huachen said that the Chinese government's decision to send naval vessels to visit the Gulf of Aden waters off Somalia to escort mission execution, is based on the implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. The main task is to protect the convoy of Chinese sailing the Gulf of Aden, the Somali waters the ship and personnel safety, protection of the World Food Programme and other international organizations, safety of ships carrying humanitarian supplies.

He also said that the Chinese navy and the South African Navy has been conducting friendly cooperation and exchange visits in recent years. In August 2000, the Chinese Navy "Shenzhen" and "South warehouse" visited South Africa. In October 2008, the South African Navy frigate "Spion Kop" was a return visit to China, this is the first African warship to visit China.

In the absence of a stable government in Somalia, piracy has flourished off that country's coast in recent years and although many navies now patrol the area, pirates currently hold 26 ships and about 600 crew members hostage.

The FFG Xuzhou also provided an escort for the Greek passenger liner Venizelon, which carried 2142 Chinese personnel evacuated from Libya, a statement from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China said yesterday.

The vessels will be docked in the port until Friday, 8 April 2011 .