14-6-2023 (MANILA) The Chinese naval training ship Qi Jiguang (Hull 83) arrived at South Harbor in Manila on Wednesday morning, marking the start of a three-day goodwill visit to the Philippines. The ship, on a cadet training and visit mission in far seas, was welcomed by over 300 people, including Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, representatives of Chinese companies, local Chinese associations and students, as well as representatives of the Philippine Navy.
During the visit, the ship commanders will pay courtesy calls to the commander of the Philippine Navy and officials of the Philippine Department of National Defense. They will also attend a welcome dinner hosted by the Philippine Navy. The Chinese crew members will visit the Philippines’ naval vessels and hold friendly cultural and sports activities with Philippine navy officers.
This is the first visit to the Philippines by the Qi Jiguang, which was commissioned in February 2017 as the largest and most modernized Chinese homegrown professional training ship. The ship is named after Qi Jiguang, a national hero of the Ming Dynasty of China.
Throughout its stay, the ship will be open to the public, and a deck reception will be organized. The visit is expected to strengthen the relationship between China and the Philippines and promote cooperation and understanding between the two nations.
China has been ramping up its naval presence in the South China Sea, where it has overlapping territorial claims with several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. The relationship between China and the Philippines has been strained in recent years due to tensions over the disputed waters.
However, both countries have been making efforts to improve ties and strengthen their cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment. The visit of the Qi Jiguang to the Philippines is seen as a positive step towards enhancing bilateral relations and promoting peace and stability in the region.
