GULF OF ADEN, December 5 -- Rear Admiral Jiang Zhonghua, commander of the 15th escort taskforce under the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN), met with Captain Choi Young-joo, commander of the escort operation of the Navy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and captain of the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer "Choi Yeong" of the ROK Navy, which was also on an escort mission in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, on December 3, 2013, local time, on Chinese amphibious dock landing ship "Jinggangshan".

During the meeting, the two sides briefed each other on their escort forces, escort methods, and intelligence and information collection, jointly discussed and analyzed the current escort situation in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, and exchanged their views on the cooperation in information sharing and intelligence exchanging in escort operations.

Rear Admiral Jiang Zhonghua also expressed his gratitude to the ROK escort warship for assisting and supporting Chinese naval escort taskforce in escorting Taiwan's merchant ship "Guihua" on October 1. He also expressed that the Chinese naval escort taskforce is willing to continue to maintain communication and contacts with escort warships of other countries including the ROK, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in a pragmatic manner within the framework of related UN resolutions.

Captain Choi Young-joo expressed that the ROK side is willing to continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Chinese naval escort taskforce, so as to jointly ensure safety of ships and people passing the waters of the Gulf of Aden.

After the meeting, the two commanders presented souvenirs to each other, and accompanied by Rear Admiral Jiang Zhonghua, Captain Choi Young-joo visited the wheel house, flight control room and some equipment of the "Jinggangshan" warship.