In order to mark the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's epic voyage and China's first Maritime Day, the "Forum on National Defense" of China Military Online run by the PLA Daily, invited special guests from the Dalian Naval Vessels Academy to chat with its web friends on the evening of July 4 in Dalian. The special guests were four officers and men of the "Zheng He" Training Ship subordinated to the academy. On behalf of their fellow officers and men, the four special guests recalled with the web friends about Zheng He's exploits, and expressed their thoughts and feelings about the national defense. It was the first time for the "Forum on National Defense" to held a chat outside Beijing since its initiation four years ago.

　　Since its commission into the PLA Navy in 1987, the "Zheng He" Ship has made 16 long voyages across the ocean, covering over 200,000 nautical miles. Thus it boasts of the greatest number of foreign ports called, the longest voyage covered and the highest voyage frequency in comparison with other Chinese naval ships, and has become a platform and a window for the new generation of the Chinese naval officers to showcase their fine images to the world and promote friendship with their foreign counterparts.

　　The four invited special guests are: Chen Daqing, ship captain, Yu Min, ship caption in charge of training, Hu Dazhai, deputy political commissar, and Yao Huangui, a sixth-class NCO. By focusing on the theme of "how we cleave through the waves and embrace the sea", the special guests talked with the web friends about their understanding of Zheng He's epic voyage in combination with their personal experiences in training and their foreign port calls, etc. The web friends in turn expressed their great concerns on China's maritime situations, the security of the coastal areas and territorial seas, and the building of the PLA Navy.

　　By Liu Wanping and Cao Jinping

　　(July 6, PLA Daily)