China kicks off celebration to mark 60th anniversary of navy

Source: Xinhua | 04-20-2009 19:12

QINGDAO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) kicked off a grand maritime ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of its navy at 6 p.m. Monday off the coast of the eastern city of Qingdao.

Chinese naval soldiers welcome the arrival of a Pakistani destroyer at the Qingdao port in east China's Shandong  province, April 18, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)

PLA Navy Commander Admiral Wu Shengli announced the start of the four-day festivities, which would include seminars, a sampan race and a fleet parade.

A total of 21 naval vessels from 14 other countries and delegations from 29 foreign countries will join the parade.

The PLA Navy was founded on April 23, 1949 with nine warships and 17 boats obtained after a unit of the Kuomintang's second coastal defense fleet defected to the PLA.

Editor:Du Xiaodan