Xi to hold talks with Cambodia's senate president

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is to hold talks with visiting Cambodian People's Party (CPP) President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Beijing later on Tuesday.

Hun Sen is on an official goodwill visit to China from Dec 2 to 4, at the invitation of the CPC.

Crew members of the Chinese Navy's destroyer Nanchang held a flag-raising ceremony on Sunday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of being commissioned.

On Jan 12, 2020, China's first Type-055 destroyer was commissioned, inheriting the hull number of the Navy's first destroyer, "101".

Throughout the five years, Nanchang has been involved in multiple missions in distant waters and open oceans.

"In one of the years, we patrolled in the island chain five times, and set sail nearly 100 times, with over half a year being on missions," said Wang Xiuyue from destroyer Nanchang.

The launch of Nanchang, an indigenous large destroyer that has a deadweight of over 10,000 tonnes, is symbolic for the navy, marking its destroyers are upgrading into the fourth generation.

"Nanchang '101' means the first. Since Nanchang was the first of its kind, we had no blueprints or materials to refer to. We explored to build it by ourselves," said Wang Zhongguang, who is responsible for securing Nanchang's electric system.

With his master electrotechnology skills, Wang is respected as an "elite soldier," an informal title to show respect to the best soldiers.

"To be an 'elite soldier' means you have to do your best all the time," said Wang.

Wang's spirit was echoed by many of the Nanchang crew members.

"I am looking forward to participating in more distant water missions with Nanchang. I hope to spend another five years with her, or even longer," said Lei Qi, a Nanchang crew member.

"I believe that to become a world-class navy, we must press ahead despite all difficulties," said Lin Xue, another crew member.