国内英语新闻:Chinese naval flotilla visits Greece after anti-piracy mission
PIRAEUS, Greece, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese naval escort warships arrived in Greece's Piraeus Port on Monday, kicking off a five-day visit.
The vessels, destroyer Guangzhou and frigate Chaohu, are part of the fifth Chinese naval escort flotilla, which just completed the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks.
Chinese Ambassador to Greece Luo Linquan and some 200 Chinese nationals came to the port to welcome the arrival of the two Chinese warships. Waving Chinese and Greek national flags, the enthusiastic Chinese living in Greece greeted the Chinese sailors with cheers.
They were excited when allowed to tour one of the ships.
"We are so excited to have a chance to board a Chinese naval destroyer," Wu Hailong, a Chinese businessman in Athens, said, adding that he and his friends come to Piraeus early in the morning from central Athens to welcome the Chinese navy soldiers.
Zhang Buren, a Chinese national from Taiwan who has lived in Athens for more than three decades, said he was very impressed by the elegant demeanor of Chinese navy soldiers. "I feel very much proud as a Chinese and so happy to see China is developing fast."
At a welcoming ceremony held at the port, the Chinese ambassador said the Chinese navy has made its effort in fighting piracy. "The Chinese naval escort flotilla has successfully escorted some 20 Greek commercial vessels in the waters near Somalia in the past few years," he said. Greece is one of the countries with biggest commercial fleets.
The Chinese envoy added that the Greek government and Greek Navy attach great importance to the visit by the Chinese naval fleet. "The Greek shipowners will come to visit the Chinese naval fleet and express their gratitude to the help from the Chinese navy," he said.
During the five-day visit, the Chinese naval officers and soldiers will visit a Greek navy base as well as the Acropolis and other archeological sites in Athens.
China's fifth naval escort flotilla with more than 800 officers and soldiers has successfully escorted 588 Chinese and foreign vessels in 41 batches since it arrived in the pirate-infested waters in early March this year.
相关文章
- 英语文摘:China urges G7 to cease interfering in its internal affairs
- 英语文摘:HKSAR gov't strongly refutes G7, EU statements on chief executive election
- 英语文摘:Xi's keynote speech at opening ceremony of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 publ
- 英语文摘:Xi attends ceremony marking centenary of Communist Youth League of China
- 英语文摘:Xi talks with Macron over phone
- 英语文摘:External interference in Hong Kong affairs doomed to be self-defeating: Commissioner's off
- 英语文摘:Chinese spokesperson slams Western countries smearing Hong Kong election
- 英语文摘:China calls for equal, balanced global development partnership
- 英语文摘:Xinhua Headlines: A look at younger generation on China's new journey
- 英语文摘:Chinese vice premier reiterates dynamic zero-COVID policy