PLA hospital ship to pay friendly visit to Indonesia

The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark will pay a friendly visit to Indonesia during the main voyage of the ship's Mission Harmony-2022 task, the Chinese military announced on Tuesday.

At the invitation of the Indonesian military, the hospital ship, scheduled to set sail on Wednesday from Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, will provide residents and overseas Chinese with diagnosis and treatment of common and frequently occurring diseases in outpatient clinics, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a news release.

Surgical treatment and hospitalization would also be offered when necessary, he added.

The news release noted the voyage, the Peace Ark's 10th overseas mission, is a vivid example of the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind and the oceans. It added the mission will further enhance the friendship between China and Indonesia, their peoples and armies.

Senior Colonel Liu Wensheng, spokesman of the People's Liberation Army Navy, said on Tuesday the Mission Harmony-2022 will be the navy's first overseas visit and medical service task after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The visit represents real action to promote mutual understanding and amity among people of all countries and jointly cope with various global challenges, Liu said, adding the Chinese Navy's medical support capability in open seas would also be improved.

He said the Chinese Navy has committed to providing public security goods to the international community and playing a positive role in maintaining world peace, stability, prosperity and development.

Peace Ark entered service in 2008 and has carried out nine overseas missions, sailing 240,000 miles and serving more than 230,000 people in 43 countries and regions.