The Chinese naval hospital ship, known as the Peace Ark. (File photo/Xinhua)
The Peace Ark, a hospital ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, returned to a military port in Zhoushan, eastern Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday after its voyage around the Pacific Ocean.
The ship took part in a military exercise coded "Peace and Friendship 2015," which was jointly held by China and Malaysia in Malaysia last September, before embarking on "Harmonious Mission-2015."
During the mission, the naval ship visited Australia, French Polynesia,United States, Mexico, Barbados, Grenada and Peru.
It also carried out free clinical and humanitarian services during its journey.
The journey exhibited the navy's image of openness and confidence while boosting friendly exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the nations it visited, deputy navy commander Wang Hai said at a ceremony to welcome the ship home.
The medical crew aboard the Peace Ark, which set sail from its port in Zhoushan on Sept. 7 last year, performed 59 surgeries and treated more than 17,400 people during the journey.
In addition, more than 9,400 foreign citizens paid visits to the ship.
Hospital ship Peace Ark, which was designed and built in China, is an emergency medical support platform at sea.
