Two Chinese law enforcement vessels returned to Jingha Port and Guanlei Port in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday, concluding the 142nd joint Mekong River patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
The operation, which began on June 18, lasted for four days and three nights, covering a total of 630 kilometers.
Seven vessels and 130 law enforcement officers from the four countries participated in the missions aiming to ensure the safety and stability of the navigation on the river.
The Mekong River -- known as the Lancang River in China -- is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. The four countries have conducted joint patrols on the river since December 2011.
142nd joint patrol on Mekong River concludes
142nd joint patrol on Mekong River concludes
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" set sail on Wednesday for a new round of port calls and charity care services across the Indian Ocean.
The Peace Ark hospital ship, known as Heping Fangzhou in Chinese, is the country's first standard ocean-going hospital ship and the world's first 10,000-ton-level professional hospital ship.
It departed from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province on the morning of June 16 for Mission Harmony-2024.
During its voyage, the Peace Ark encountered strong gales and torrential rain, which reduced visibility and caused three-meter high waves. Despite these challenging meteorological conditions, the mission crew conducted training exercises for maritime rescue, situation response, and helicopter operations.
"We will organize training sessions for maritime medical treatment and hospital transfers, drills for zoning damage control areas, and the entire maritime hospital process in the coming days. These drills will continuously enhance the capacity of our armed forces to navigate the ocean, laying a solid foundation for fulfilling the mission," said Zhang Yi, a crew member of Mission Harmony-2024.
During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries including Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, and South Africa, and offer charity care services to local residents, people of Chinese institutions, and overseas Chinese. It will also make port calls to France and Greece.
Chinese navy's hospital ship "Peace Ark" sets sail for port calls across Indian Ocean
