PLA Navy training vessel ‘Zhenghe’ arrives in U.S.

HONOLULU, Oct. 12 -- The Chinese navy's training vessel "Zhenghe" arrived Monday in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, starting a four-day goodwill visit to the United States.

"I hope the mission will get a chance to enjoy the natural beauty and people of Hawaii," Captain Stanley Keeve Jr., commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), told the media.

The ocean-going training ship, named after the great Chinese navigator Zheng He, was warmly greeted by U.S. Navy officials, Chinese embassy staff and overseas Chinese in Hawaii.

The training ship carries 351 officials and sailors, including 171 students from military academies who are onboard for training.

"This is the second handshake between 'Zhenghe' and Hawaii," Ye Kaihua, the commanding officer of the training vessel, told Xinhua. "The first time the ship visited here was in 1987."

During the visit, the Chinese sailors and midshipmen will hold various exchange programs with their U.S. counterparts in a bid to boost friendship and understanding between the two navies.

Before the departure of "Zhenghe" on Friday, naval soldiers from both sides will also carry out some sports activities such as rowing, football and basketball.

On Sept. 23, "Zhenghe" started its far sea intern mission voyage from the port city of Dalian, northeast China. After Pearl Harbor, it will head to South Korea's Chinhae port.