The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's 83rd taskforce on Monday wrapped up its four-day goodwill visit to Thailand and left for Singapore.
The taskforce, consisting of PLA Navy ships Qi Jiguang and Yimengshan, docked at the Chuk Samet port after arriving in the Sattahip naval base in eastern Thailand's Chonburi province on October 16.
This was the third visit by the Qi Jiguang ship to Thailand, and the first by the Yimengshan ship. During their stay, the crew members visited the Thai navy's HTMS Chakri Naruebet aircraft carrier and other military facilities. They also visited the Royal Thai Naval Academy and local schools, and engaged in friendly sports matches and other exchange activities with their Thai counterparts.
At 10:00 local time, the Thai side held a grand farewell ceremony at the Sattahip Port as Qi Jiguang and Yimengshan slowly departed from the pier.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand.
"Through various exchange activities, I feel that the bond of China-Thailand friendship is growing stronger. When explaining the capabilities of our ships to visiting civilians, I could deeply sense the feeling of security and pride that our nation's naval vessels bring to overseas Chinese," said Wu Songbo, a crew member from Chinese PLA Navy's 83rd taskforce.
During the visit, the Qi Jiguang ship hosted a deck reception featuring displays of traditional Chinese culture and artistic performances by cadets, which were warmly received by the guests in attendance.
Both the Qi Jiguang and the Yimengshan ships organized multiple open-day events, attracting over 6,000 visitors who came aboard for tours.
Chinese PLA Navy ships wrap up visit to Thailand
