The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region warmly welcomed the Shandong aircraft carrier-led fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy as it arrived on Thursday morning.
The fleet, which also includes the Yan'an and Zhanjiang missile destroyers, and the Yuncheng missile frigate, started its five-day visit to Hong Kong on Thursday.
The HKSAR government held a grand ceremony to welcome the naval fleet, with fire boats giving a water salute, and helicopters live-streaming the entire process of the fleet entering Hong Kong. Along the shore, enthusiastic crowds of local residents waved flags and cheered in celebration of the fleet's arrival.
Shandong aircraft carrier and Yan'an missile destroyer anchored at the western anchorage of Victoria Harbour, while the Zhanjiang missile destroyer and Yuncheng missile frigate docked at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee, accompanied by representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, central government institutions in Hong Kong, and the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, met with officers and crew of the Zhanjiang missile destroyer at the pier. The delegation later toured the Zhanjiang missile destroyer and Yuncheng missile frigate.
The three vessels will open to the public over the weekend, with a series of interactive activities - including military training displays, hands-on experience, and national defense education lectures, aiming to offer Hong Kong compatriots a more direct and in-depth understanding of China's advancements in national defense and military development in the new era.
"During our fleet's current visit to Hong Kong, all weapons and equipment on display were made in China. We have advanced destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers that rank among the world's most sophisticated. Hong Kong serves as an important window to showcase China's development, including the progress of the PLA and the Chinese Navy. When Hong Kong compatriots visit our aircraft carrier fleet, they will feel proud to be Chinese, seeing for themselves the strength of our motherland and our national defense capabilities. This contributes significantly to national cohesion," said military expert Cao Weidong.
The Shandong is China's first domestically designed, built and equipped conventionally powered aircraft carrier, with a length of over 300 meters and a full-load displacement of over 60,000 tonnes. Commissioned into the PLA Navy on Dec. 17, 2019 in Sanya, southern China's island province of Hainan, its induction marked China's entry into the "dual aircraft carrier" era.
This visit to Hong Kong marks its first time to open to the public since its commissioning. This event also coincides with the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, vessels of the PLA Navy have paid eight visits to the city in various forms. The first visit occurred in 2002, while the two most recent took place in 2024.
This is the second visit of an aircraft carrier fleet to Hong Kong, with the first taking place in July 2017 led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier.
Shandong carrier-led naval fleet warmly welcomed in Hong Kong
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will be held from May 22-23 in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, with preliminary consultations and seminars kicking off on Monday.
Multiple consultations have commenced, including discussions on the joint statement to be issued at the meeting and ways to promote cooperation in digital trade.
Additionally, the "Big Market for All: Export to China" Suzhou special event and the Suzhou products promotion event opened Monday.
Experts emphasized that the minister's meeting will play a timely role in advancing regional economic integration and tackling emerging trade challenges through deeper cooperation in digital and green sectors.
"APEC is the highest-level and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. On the 20th anniversary of the vision for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), the 2026 Suzhou APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting will play a positive role in safeguarding the multilateral trading system, stabilizing Asia-Pacific cooperation, and leading global open development, countering the increasingly intensifying wave of trade protectionism," said Yuan Qian, deputy director of the trade and investment research division of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is under the administration of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"At the same time, as a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates, this meeting takes cooperation in emerging areas such as digital and green as important content, better aligning with the trend of global technological innovation and development, countering global economic growth pressures, and opening up new spaces for regional cooperation and development," the expert added.
Terms such as digital economy, electronic bills of lading, and green supply chains appear frequently in the agenda of the APEC trade ministers' meeting.
"Although electronic bills of lading may seem small, their impact on international trade is very critical. They can improve customs clearance efficiency and reduce customs clearance costs. If promoted, it will not only affect these developed economies and large traders, but more importantly, it will significantly enhance the ability of some small and medium-sized economies and some developing countries to participate in international trade and improve their trade efficiency," said Zhou Mi, deputy director of the Institute of American and Oceania, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is under the administration of the Ministry of Commerce.
This year, a key topic of the meeting is the digital economy.
"In the past, people thought the digital economy was an option; now it has become a must. Because having advantages in digital economy development means having greater advantages in international trade. They (member economies) have seen some of China's practices and approaches in the digital economy field and hope to use such a platform to further improve their own technology and strengthen coordination with China," said Zhou.
Founded in 1989, the APEC is the highest-level, broadest and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. About 700 representatives from 21 APEC economies and international organizations will gather in Jiangsu for the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting.
Preliminary consultations begin for APEC trade ministers' meeting
