Chinese naval fleet visits Latvia

A Chinese naval fleet arrives at the Freeport of Riga to start a 3-day visit to the country on August 5, 2017. [Photo: cnr.cn]

A Chinese naval fleet called on the Freeport of Riga in Latvia on Saturday morning to start a three-day visit to the country.

A welcome ceremony was held at the port with the participation of more than 200 Chinese working and living in Latvia.

Representatives of the Latvian National Armed Forces also attended the ceremony, which attracted many reporters.

Officers and soldiers of a Chinese naval fleet wave to the Chinese people working and living in Latvia during a welcome ceremony at the Freeport of Riga on August 5, 2017. The Chinese naval fleet is on a 3-day visit to Latvia. [Photo: cnr.cn]

Yu Manjiang, commander of the Chinese naval fleet, said in his speech at the ceremony that this was the first visit by Chinese Navy ships to Latvia and the visit was intended to strengthen and develop bilateral relations through exchanges between the naval forces of the two countries. 

The Chinese fleet comprises three modern vessels currently in the service of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. One of the ships will be open to the public during its three-day stay in Riga.

A good-will football match will also be organized between the naval forces of the two countries.

Yu Manjiang, the commander, and Fu Xiaodong, the political commissar of a Chinese naval fleet wave to the Chinese people working and living in Latvia during a welcome ceremony at the Freeport of Riga on August 5, 2017. The Chinese naval fleet is on a 3-day visit to Latvia. [Photo: cnr.cn]

Yu Manjiang voiced hope that the visit will promote friendship between the naval forces and peoples of the two countries and that it will raise the exchange between the Chinese and Latvian military to a new, higher level. 

The Chinese fleet arrived in Riga after a friendly visit to Helsinki, Finland.