Chinanews, Qingdao, Apr. 13 – An Indian naval fleet arrived in Qingdao on Thursday to start a five-day visit to the city. When the visit concludes, Chinese and Indian navies will conduct a joint military drill at the outer coastal areas near Qingdao. The main contents of the drill will be testing telecommunication capability and the buildup of the naval vessels format.

This is the first time that Indian Navy visits China in a naval vessel format. The Indian fleet consists of some guided missile destroyers, including INS RANA and INS RANJIT. There are 61 officers and 778 soldiers on board the ships.

At 9 o'clock in the morning, guided by the Chinese guided missile destroyer, Qingdao, the Indian fleet berthed at a military port, which was already decorated with colorful streamers. Chinese soldiers played martial music and the two sides fired a 21-gun salute to mark the occasion. Two children presented a bunch of flowers to the visiting Indian naval officers. Chinese North Sea Fleet, officers from the Qingdao municipal government, officials from the Qingdao garrison command, and 100 Chinese naval soldiers welcomed Indian officers and soldiers at the pier.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the North Sea Fleet Guo Shouqian, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indian fleet, and Indian ambassador to China each delivered a speech on the welcoming ceremony. Then the Indian senior officer paid a visit to General Su Zhiliang and they exchanged gifts.