China's homegrown deep-sea multi-functional scientific exploration and cultural relics archaeological ship, Tansuo-3 (Exploration-3), was commissioned in Sanya City of south China's tropical island province of Hainan on Sunday, getting ready to undertake missions in 2025. The vessel's commissioning marks a significant expansion of China's manned submersible capabilities, enabling Chinese scientific expedition teams to explore all sea areas.
According to schedule, the vessel will carry a full-ocean-depth Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) known as Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) for regular scientific research operations, deep-sea equipment trials and deep-sea archaeology in the South China Sea in the first half of 2025. In the second half of next year, it will begin manned deep-sea submersible operations in abyssal oceans. The Tansuo-3 is China's first comprehensive scientific research ship capable of conducting global deep-sea exploration, including in polar regions, and can support manned deep diving in ice areas. Measuring 104 meters long and with a displacement of about 10,000 tons, the Tansuo-3 was independently designed, developed and built by China. it can sail at a maximum speed of 16 knots (around 30 kilometers per hour), and sail as far as 15,000 nautical miles (around 27,780 kilometers) on a single voyage. It can accommodate 80 crew members and break ice with both its forward and aft. The vessel has a large moon pool of 6 meters by 4.8 meters, an opening at the base of the hull, to ensure scientific exploration operations on floating ice and under challenging maritime conditions. Notably, the vessel's birth marks greater breakthroughs in China's autonomy in the development of key core technologies, featuring not only homegrown equipment but also independently developed key control systems.
China commissions independently developed deep-sea research vessel "Tansuo-3"
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Seychelles' President Patrick Herminie on Tuesday exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between their two countries.
In his congratulatory message, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, no matter how the international landscape evolves, China and Seychelles have always trusted each other and firmly adhered to mutual support, with friendship between the two countries rock-solid.
Xi said he believes that as long as both sides stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations and proceed side by side, the path for the development of China-Seychelles relations will become broader and broader, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation will be brighter.
Noting that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two countries, Xi said he is willing to work with Herminie to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), promote common development, continuously lead the China-Seychelles strategic partnership toward new heights, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries.
Herminie said in his message that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the relations between Seychelles and China have steadily developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and common development.
China has always been a valuable partner of Seychelles and has provided much support for Seychelles in improving people's well-being and achieving national development goals, he said.
Noting that Seychelles firmly adheres to the one-China principle, Herminie said Seychelles is willing to continue strengthening cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation and the FOCAC, and continuously deepen bilateral relations.
Xi exchanges congratulations with Seychelles' president on 50th anniversary of ties
