Chinese navy escort fleets hold handover ceremony for mission rotation

The 47th and 48th escort taskforces the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy held a mission handover ceremony in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday.

With the separation order issued, the guided-missile destroyer Baotou (Hull 133), and the guided-missile destroyer Tangshan (Hull 122) fired three green signal flares each, and all ships sounded horns, with officers and sailors waving goodbye.

Subsequently, the two taskforces turned 90 degrees to the left and right respectively.

After the ceremony, the 48th Chinese naval escort taskforce will take over from the 47th taskforce for the remaining escort missions.

The PLA Navy began conducting escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia in December 2008.

Chinese navy escort fleets hold handover ceremony for mission rotation

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday afternoon to begin a three-day state visit to the United States.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly greeted by U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the base in a rare planeside welcome.

The welcome ceremony also included a gun salute and the playing of the national anthems of both countries.

Xi lands in U.S. for state visit, greeted by Trump