PLA naval taskforce leaves New Zealand for China (9)

Auckland, October 16 (ChinaMil) -- The taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) composed of the guided missile destroyer "Qingdao", the guided missile frigate "Linyi" and the comprehensive supply ship "Hongze Lake" started to sail back to China from Auckland, New Zealand, at 09:00, local time, on October 15 after concluding the 4-day goodwill visit to New Zealand.

Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand, was the last stop of the Chinese naval taskforce's visit to the three countries of the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Steer, commander of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), particularly took a flight from Wellington to Auckland and met with Wei Gang, commander of the Chinese naval taskforce and chief of staff of the North China Sea Fleet of the PLAN, on board of the guided missile destroyer "Qingdao".

New Zealand Defense Minister Jonathan Coleman also attended the reception on board of the guided missile destroyer "Qingdao". Representatives of the officers and men of the Chinese naval taskforce visited the Devonport Naval Base of New Zealand. The officers and men from both navies also held friendly matches of soccer and basketball.