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Chinese naval warships welcomed in Italy
Chinese Ambassador to Italy Ding Wei and some 200 Chinese nationals welcomed on Monday the arrival of two Chinese warships at the southern naval base in Taranto.
Enthusiastic Chinese people, coming from all over Italy, greeted the navy soldiers with cheers, waving in the air red Chinese flags. Some lucky ones even had the opportunity to board one of the ships for a tour.
The vessels, destroyer Guangzhou and frigate Chaohu led by Rear Admiral Zhang Wendan, are part of the fifth Chinese naval escort flotilla, which just completed patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks.
The Chinese ambassador said the visit was "set to further improve military exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Italian navies."
Ding said he looked forward to increasing cooperation between the two countries in all sectors.
The flotilla had decided to dock in three countries: Egypt, Italy and Greece, which proved the importance of the Italian naval base.
Talking about the good impression he had of Taranto upon his arrival, Commander Zhang highlighted the friendship between Italy and China and the various cultural and historical links existing between the two countries.
Zhang, who is also deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Navy's South Sea Fleet, expressed his wish that the Chinese and Italian navies further cooperate in the near future.
The Chinese warships together with two Italian frigates will perform joint war games in the Gulf of Taranto on Friday.
Taranto's navy commodore Giovanni Gumiero, who greeted the visiting flotilla as representative of the Italian armed forces, said: "Many other activities are planned for the five-day visit, including sport activities and site-seeing tours for the Chinese navy men."
The Chinese nationals attending the welcome ceremony were delighted.
"This is my first time on a Chinese naval warship," Guo Chao said excitedly. "I came all the way from Rome for this celebration and it fills me with joy."
Chen Zhiru, a Chinese resident of Taranto, explained that he was so happy because the Chinese ships symbolize his family, his home-country.
Chen Zhengxi, leader of the southern Italy Chinese association, said:"Today it's an important day for me, the arrival of the ships fills me with pride."
After the port ceremony, the Chinese navy leaders then visited the hosting Italian authorities: the mayor of Taranto Ippazio Stefano, the central government's representative Carmela Pagano and the Taranto province deputy president Emanuele Fisicaro, all of whom warmly greeted the Chinese guests and expressed their desire that the visit could pave the way for future contacts and cooperation.
Fisicaro, talking about the importance of Sino-Italian relations, said Taranto had been the first city in Italy to open its economic doors to Chinese businesses.
"Our town is a strategic entrance hub for Chinese products in Italy and we look forward to increasing Chinese integration and entrepreneurial activities in our area," said Fisicaro.
It's the second time Chinese naval warships made a port call in Italy. The first occurred in 2001 in the northern port of La Spezia.
The Chinese warships came to Taranto's naval base, Italy's largest and most strategic base, after its stop at Alexandria in Egypt. The two warships will leave Italy on Friday to continue their trip.
China's fifth naval escort flotilla with more than 800 officers and soldiers has successfully escorted 588 Chinese and foreign vessels in 41 batches since it arrived in the pirate-infested waters in early March this year.
China Military Online English Edition
Chinese Ambassador to Italy Ding Wei and some 200 Chinese nationals welcomed on Monday the arrival of two Chinese warships at the southern naval base in Taranto.
Enthusiastic Chinese people, coming from all over Italy, greeted the navy soldiers with cheers, waving in the air red Chinese flags. Some lucky ones even had the opportunity to board one of the ships for a tour.
The vessels, destroyer Guangzhou and frigate Chaohu led by Rear Admiral Zhang Wendan, are part of the fifth Chinese naval escort flotilla, which just completed patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks.
The Chinese ambassador said the visit was "set to further improve military exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Italian navies."
Ding said he looked forward to increasing cooperation between the two countries in all sectors.
The flotilla had decided to dock in three countries: Egypt, Italy and Greece, which proved the importance of the Italian naval base.
Talking about the good impression he had of Taranto upon his arrival, Commander Zhang highlighted the friendship between Italy and China and the various cultural and historical links existing between the two countries.
Zhang, who is also deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Navy's South Sea Fleet, expressed his wish that the Chinese and Italian navies further cooperate in the near future.
The Chinese warships together with two Italian frigates will perform joint war games in the Gulf of Taranto on Friday.
Taranto's navy commodore Giovanni Gumiero, who greeted the visiting flotilla as representative of the Italian armed forces, said: "Many other activities are planned for the five-day visit, including sport activities and site-seeing tours for the Chinese navy men."
The Chinese nationals attending the welcome ceremony were delighted.
"This is my first time on a Chinese naval warship," Guo Chao said excitedly. "I came all the way from Rome for this celebration and it fills me with joy."
Chen Zhiru, a Chinese resident of Taranto, explained that he was so happy because the Chinese ships symbolize his family, his home-country.
Chen Zhengxi, leader of the southern Italy Chinese association, said:"Today it's an important day for me, the arrival of the ships fills me with pride."
After the port ceremony, the Chinese navy leaders then visited the hosting Italian authorities: the mayor of Taranto Ippazio Stefano, the central government's representative Carmela Pagano and the Taranto province deputy president Emanuele Fisicaro, all of whom warmly greeted the Chinese guests and expressed their desire that the visit could pave the way for future contacts and cooperation.
Fisicaro, talking about the importance of Sino-Italian relations, said Taranto had been the first city in Italy to open its economic doors to Chinese businesses.
"Our town is a strategic entrance hub for Chinese products in Italy and we look forward to increasing Chinese integration and entrepreneurial activities in our area," said Fisicaro.
It's the second time Chinese naval warships made a port call in Italy. The first occurred in 2001 in the northern port of La Spezia.
The Chinese warships came to Taranto's naval base, Italy's largest and most strategic base, after its stop at Alexandria in Egypt. The two warships will leave Italy on Friday to continue their trip.
China's fifth naval escort flotilla with more than 800 officers and soldiers has successfully escorted 588 Chinese and foreign vessels in 41 batches since it arrived in the pirate-infested waters in early March this year.
China Military Online English Edition
