China Navy training vessel "Zhenghe" arrived at Malaysia's Port Klang Sunday, starting a five-day trip to the country to promote friendship.

China Navy training vessel "Zhenghe" [file photo]

At around 10:00 a.m. local time, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) ocean-going training ship, named after the Chinese great navigator Zhenghe, slowly entered Port Klang, Malaysia's largest port located some 40 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

The vessel was warmly received by Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Chai Xi, representatives of overseas Chinese and representatives from the Malaysian military.

The commander, Liao Shining, deputy chief of staff of the PLA navy, said the main purpose of the visit is to promote the ideal of "a harmonious world and a harmonious ocean", as well as strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two navies.

The ship is carrying more than 300 sailors, including 110 students from the Dalian Naval Academy. It is in Malaysia as the second leg of its global goodwill voyage, aiming at promoting friendship and exchanges with visiting countries.

During the stay in Malaysia, the Chinese sailors and midshipmen would play friendly sport games with students from National Defense University of Malaysia. They will also visit historical and cultural relics in the City of Malacca, where Zhenghe's fleet visited several times in the early 15th century.

The "Zhenghe," started its five-month journey from the port city of Dalian in northeast China in mid-April, is scheduled to visit ports in 11 countries, including Vietnam, India, Italy, Spain, Canada, Ecuador, Indonesia and Brunei, covering more than 30,000 nautical miles.

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