Chinese hospital ship returns home following humanitarian mission

Soldiers stand at attention during a welcoming ceremony as the Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrives at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 19, 2023. The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrived at a port in Zhoushan on Tuesday morning after completing friendly visits and humanitarian medical services to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor. (Photo by Han Lin/Xinhua)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrived at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday morning after completing friendly visits and humanitarian medical services to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor.

Since its departure on July 3, the ship had traversed a distance exceeding 12,000 nautical miles over 79 days.

Throughout its mission, the ship has welcomed visiting heads of state, military and political dignitaries, along with representatives from international organizations, foreign delegations, overseas Chinese communities, and local military, police, and civilians.

The ship hosted five deck receptions, organized 23 academic exchanges and 10 cultural events, and participated in its first-ever joint exercise with the Tongan Navy.

The vessel provided medical care to 41,358 individuals from various countries, conducted physical examinations for 491 people, and performed 192 surgeries for residents.

It also dispatched 47 medical teams to offer medical services in local communities, schools, and hospitals. Additionally, its medical personnel also helped deliver three babies on the ship.

The "Peace Ark," the first standard ocean-going maritime hospital independently designed and built by China, has undertaken humanitarian medical missions abroad since being commissioned in 2008.

The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrives at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 19, 2023. The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrived at a port in Zhoushan on Tuesday morning after completing friendly visits and humanitarian medical services to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor. (Photo by Gui Jiangbo/Xinhua)

Soldiers stand at attention during a welcoming ceremony as the Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrives at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 19, 2023. The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrived at a port in Zhoushan on Tuesday morning after completing friendly visits and humanitarian medical services to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor.(Photo by Han Lin/Xinhua)

The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrives at a port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 19, 2023. The Chinese naval hospital ship "Peace Ark" arrived at a port in Zhoushan on Tuesday morning after completing friendly visits and humanitarian medical services to Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor. (Photo by Gui Jiangbo/Xinhua)