The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship Peace Ark arrived in Madagascar on Friday, starting a seven-day friendly visit and medical mission to the Indian Ocean island country.
The hospital ship sailed into the Port of Diego Suarez at 10:00 local time on Friday, marking its first visit to Madagascar.
Madagascar hosted a welcoming ceremony for the ship.
The Peace Ark is China's first institutionalized ocean-going hospital ship independently designed and built by China. Since its commission in 2008, the ship has taken the Harmonious Mission as its major mission and traveled overseas several times to carry out humanitarian medical services.
"After years of mission, the Peace Ark hospital ship has developed systematic medical service technologies and gained rich experience on medical treatment. While visiting Madagascar for the first time, we will send medical teams to local villages, hospitals, military bases to conduct joint medical treatment service and academic exchanges and let the high-quality medical treatment technologies and advanced academic theories reach more people in need," said Hong Miao from the Harmonious Mission .
During the visit, the mission commanders will engage in a series of exchange events, including meeting with Madagascar's military officers and government officials. Senior officials from the government of Madagascar will board the ship to participate in related activities.
"Peace Ark" set sail from a military port in Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province in mid-June for Mission Harmony-2024.
During the mission, the ship will visit 13 countries, namely, Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin, Mauritania, Djibouti and Sri Lanka, and provide medical service to local people. It will also make port calls to France and Greece.
This is the 10th Mission Harmony for "Peace Ark" since its commissioning in 2008. The medics on-board will offer free diagnosis and treatment for common and prevalent diseases to local residents, people in Chinese institutions, and overseas Chinese through on-board clinics and on-site health services.
There are over 100 personnel on board the maritime hospital, featuring 17 clinical departments and 5 auxiliary diagnostic departments.
China's navy hospital ship arrives in Madagascar for friendly visit
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
