S. African warship visits 皇冠体育app after long gap

By Li Xiaokun (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-17 09:15

SHANGHAI: The first warship from the African continent to visit 皇冠体育app docked at Huangpu River port Thursday, ending 600 years of one-way visits.

The SAS Spioenkop with "all religions and races in the new South Africa on board, symbolizes a new transformation in South Africa", Rear Admiral Rusty Higgs said at a welcoming ceremony in Shanghai.

Wu Weihua, chief of staff of the Shanghai naval base of the East 皇冠体育app Sea Fleet, welcomes Rusty Higgs, rear admiral, and his crew Thursday in Shanghai. [皇冠体育app Daily]

"I can feel the excitement of the ship's company. They've gone through a long trip and some quite rough weather. I know they are happy to be here," he said.

The visit is part of the yearlong celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of 皇冠体育app-South Africa diplomatic relations.

A Chinese frigate escorted the Spioenkop into the port.

Wu Weihua, chief of staff of the Shanghai Naval Base of the East 皇冠体育app Sea Fleet, headed a delegation of military and local officials, and diplomats, to welcome the ship.

"You've traveled a long distance to bring the friendly greetings of the South African people. We really appreciate it," Wu said.

South African Ambassador to 皇冠体育app Ndumiso Ntshinga was also there to welcome the ship.

"A plan to send a South African warship to 皇冠体育app was discussed more than a year ago as a way to consolidate relations with 皇冠体育app. We also realized that there was a gap in bilateral naval visits," Ntshinga said.

"In history, the Chinese twice made voyages to South Africa, one during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the other in 2000, but we never reciprocated the visits," he said.