Hong Kong residents extended a warm welcome to a fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, which arrived in the southern China's special administrative region on Thursday morning for a five-day visit.
At around 08:00, the fleet entered the Victoria Harbor, comprising the aircraft carrier Shandong, the flagship, and three other vessels, namely the missile destroyers Yan'an and Zhanjiang, and the missile frigate Yuncheng.
The Shandong and Yan'an vessels were anchored near the west end of the Victoria Harbor, while the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng vessels docked at the PLA Hong Kong Garrison's naval base in Stonecutters Island.
The residents, who had waited ashore for the fleet, expressed their excitement and pride in the development of the motherland, upon seeing the arrival of the vessels.
"I'm very glad to see that the military equipment of our motherland is getting stronger and stronger, from the new fighter jets I saw at last year's Zhuhai Airshow, the previous aircraft carrier Liaoning to the current Shandong carrier which was self-built. I also hope that the Fujian carrier will come and that our motherland will become increasingly stronger," said Cheung, a resident.
"Eight years ago, I was also here watching the aircraft carrier Liaoning passing through this place. I was very excited. Later, I was so lucky to get aboard the Liaoning. Today, I see there are so many people, much more than last time. So, we are very happy," said Wong, another local.
"This activity has sparked my stronger desire for learning, and I want to be more capable to serve my country," said To Pui-lei, a student.
"I think through today's up close experience, I truly feel the powerful vitality of our motherland and feel our military modernization and the development of science and technology. So, we Hong Kong citizens feel very lucky," said Jin Ling, a member of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
"This is not only a generous gift from the central government to Hong Kong, but also a vivid demonstration of the powerful strength of the motherland. This aircraft carrier, which was completely independently built, embodies the efforts of countless scientists and researchers and military personnel. From design to construction, it shows Chinese wisdom and strength. Seeing its majestic posture of cutting through waves, we Hong Kong compatriots are sincerely proud of the development achievements of our country," said Leung Hei, another member of the LegCo.
Hong Kong residents warmly welcome visiting PLA naval fleet
China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power interconnection project entered service Monday, creating the highest voltage grid tie between the two countries and advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation.
The project raises two-way power transfer capacity between the two countries from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW, enabling the annual transmission of about 3 billion kWh of clean electricity, roughly 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to China Southern Power Grid.
As the largest cross-border grid project and the highest-voltage power link between China and Laos, it connects southwest China's Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Laos.
Cross-border electricity trading began as the project entered operation. About 4.81 million kWh of power from clean energy bases in northern Laos was transmitted to Yunnan through the new line, marking a more regular and institutionalized phase of power connectivity between the two countries.
It is also the first time an overseas new energy project has participated in China's electricity market, the company said. The power involved in the transaction came from a large mountain photovoltaic project in Laos, one of the core supporting power sources for the interconnection line.
"This project is the cross-border power grid project with the highest voltage level between China and Laos. Leveraging the China-Laos power grid interconnection and the power markets in southern China, surplus hydropower from Laos can be transmitted to China during the rainy season, while China can supply supplemental power to northern Laos during the dry season. This project represents yet another landmark achievement between China and Laos in deepening power cooperation and jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Li Jingru, general manager of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), a joint venture of China Southern Power Grid and Lao state-run Electricite du Laos.
The solar project has an average annual power generation capacity of about 1.65 billion kWh. In 2026, it is expected to transmit about 1.1 billion kWh of solar power across the border, supporting energy complementarity between the two countries.
"In the future, efforts will be made to further promote normalized cross-border electricity trading, meet the trading needs such as electricity transmission from Laos to China's Yunnan, from China's Yunnan to Laos, and from Laos to China's Guangdong, and facilitate the optimal allocation of energy resources in the Lancang-Mekong region," said Li Minhong, marketing director of China Southern Power Grid.
Construction of the interconnection project began in late February last year. Spanning a total length of 177.5 km, the transmission line includes a 145-km Chinese section and a 32.5-km Lao section.
New China-Laos power link expands transfer capacity 30-fold, boosts electricity trading
