Chinese fleet sets sail for joint drills

Soldiers of the North China Sea Fleet, one of three fleets of the People's Liberation Army Navy, salute on the missile destroyer Qingdao before departure, in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, Aug 20, 2013. The ship, carrying nearly 700 soldiers and a helicopter, will visit the United States, New Zealand and Australia, along with escort shipLinyiand depot ship Hongzehu. The fleet will participate in two maritime drills in the US and Australia. [Photo/Xinhua]

Soldiers on Qingdao salute before departure for the US, Australia, and New Zealand.[Photo/Xinhua]

Three Chinese naval vessels set sail for the United States, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday to take part in a series of military drills involving more than a dozen countries.

The Chinese fleet -- comprising the Qingdao guided-missile destroyer, the Linyimissile frigate and the Hongzehu, a large supply ship -- departed from Qingdao, Shandong province, for waters near Hawaii, where it will participate in a search-and-rescue drill with the US navy.

In Australia, the fleet will take part in a drill with member countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It will also join in a commemorative parade of international vessels.

Xu Hongmeng, deputy commander of the navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said the trip is an "important mission of military diplomacy" for the Chinese navy this year.

The trip will boost the Chinese navy's ability to carry out an array of missions and will deepen friendships with the US, Australia and New Zealand, Xu said.

China's fleet, which also includes a helicopter and a 680-strong crew, will travel a total of about 16,000 nautical miles.

The trip also serves to build consensus between China and the US and help shape relations between the two countries, said Wei Gang, commander of the fleet and chief of staff of the PLA navy's North China Sea Fleet.

The fleet's trip to Australia will broaden its military communications with ASEAN members, Wei said.

The Qingdaodestroyer has been a consistent presence in the Chinese navy's diplomatic missions, having already visited 21 countries and 24 ports. It is the first diplomatic mission for the Linyimissile frigate, which has a full load displacement of 4,000 metric tons.

The Hongzehu, the first comprehensive depot ship that went into service in 1981, has a full load displacement of 22,000 tons.