China concludes celebration of navy anniversary with grand fleet review

Source: Xinhua | 04-23-2009 21:57

QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China concluded a four-day celebration for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Thursday, with an unprecedented parade of PLA Navy warships and an international fleet review.

The PLA Navy parade, the fourth staged in China since 1949, but the first on such a large and international scale, displayed 25 of the PLA Navy's vessels, including two nuclear-powered submarines, and 31 naval aircraft.

The parade was followed by an international fleet review which saw the participation of 21 foreign vessels from 14 countries, including the United States's destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the Russian cruiser CG-011 Varyag.

Amid the rhythms of "March of the Review," a Chinese melody usually played for formal occasions, the foreign vessels lined up in a row in the order of combatant ships, landing craft, auxiliary ships and a sailing ship for training. All the foreign ships flew their flags at full-staff.

Chinese President Hu Jintao reviewed the Chinese-made warships and their foreign counterparts from onboard the PLA Navy destroyer Shijiazhuang in waters off the port city Qingdao.