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Qingdao parade to see China's 3 fleets

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-22 21:23

QINGDAO -- All of China's three fleets have sent vessels to take part in the fleet review scheduled for Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, a military source said here on Wednesday.

All the aircraft and submarines, including several nuclear powered ones making their first public appearance during Thursday's parade, and the majority of destroyers and frigates taking part would come from the Qingdao-based PLA Navy Beihai (North Sea) Fleet, said the source who declined to be named.

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PLA Navy's Donghai (East Sea) and Nanhai (South Sea) Fleets would also send ships to the parade, including missile destroyer Guangzhou from the Nanhai Fleet.

Commissioned in 2004, destroyer Guangzhou has since visited Russia, Britain, Spain and France. The destroyer, with a displacement of 5,850 tonnes, also took part in a series of international military exercises, including the Peace Mission 2005 of China and Russia, and the "Peace 09" military exercise at the Arabia Sea off the southern Pakistani port of Karachi in 2009.

Destroyer Harbin of the PLA Navy North Sea Fleet will also take part in the parade. Commissioned in 1994, the destroyer has visited more than 11 countries including the United States and Russia, according to the source.

Thursday's activities will include a parade of Chinese warships, a flypast by PLA Navy aircraft, and a fleet review attended by 21 foreign vessels from 14 countries.

Senior naval officers would review the naval vessels onboard the PLA Navy's missile destoyer Shijiazhuang during the activities.