At the temporary request of the U.S.-Allies Task Force 151, Senior Captain Wang Dazhong, commander of the alternate command post of the 11th naval escort taskforce under the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), conducted an informal exchange visit with Rear Admiral Jong An Ho, commander of the U.S.-Allies Task Force 151, at the Salalah Port of the Sultanate of Oman on July 9, 2012, local time.
Rear Admiral Jong An Ho and his party totaling 8 people boarded the “Yantai” warship of the 11th Chinese naval escort taskforce, which was berthing in the Salalah Port of the Sultanate of Oman for rest and replenishment, at 10:00 of July 9. Both sides conducted in-depth exchanges about the escort experience as well as the current patterns, situations and characteristics of pirate activities, and mentioned that the excellent communication and cooperation maintained by the navies of various countries during the escort.
Rear Admiral Jong An Ho spoke highly of the efforts that the Chinese naval escort taskforce has made in maintaining the safety in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast. He also expressed his admiration for the achievements made by the 11th Chinese naval escort taskforce, and hoped that both sides could continue to maintain good communication and cooperation and work together to maintain the peace and stability in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast.
After the meeting, Rear Admiral Jong An Ho and his party visited the wheel house, flight platform and other parts of the “Yantai” warship.
At 15:00 of the same day, Senior Captain Wang Dazhong, Li Hua，captain of the “Yantai” warship, and their party totaling 6 paid a return visit to the DDG978 guided-missile destroyer of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the flagship of the US-Allies Task Force 151, and toured the command post as well as the major weapon equipment of the ship.
It is learned that the DDG978 guided-missile destroyer is a new-generation main battleship of the ROK Navy in early 21st century. Equipped with regional air-defense missile system, it is mainly responsible for the air defense of the fleet. It is serving currently as the flagship of the US-Allies Task Force 151 in performing the escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.
The “Yantai” warship of the 11th Chinese naval escort taskforce wrapped up its rest and replenishment at 08:00 on July 9, and has already returned to its mission waters.
Source: The People’s Daily
