Officer and men of the Chinese vessel Shenzhen are visiting a vessel of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)

　　On the morning of November 29, Rear Admiral Xiao Xinnian, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, who commanded guided missile destroyer Shenzhen , paid courtesy calls to the related officials of the Japanese Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively, during which Xiao Xinnian noted that the PLA Navy would resolutely act according to the agreement reached by the leaders of China and Japan, work hard to safeguard and cherish the important opportunities and good situation faced with by the two countries for developing their relations in the defense field, play a positive role in promoting steady and in-depth development of the relations between the two countries, including the relations in the defense field, from the height of "facing the future", and make efforts to turn the East China Sea into a sea of peace, a sea of friendship and a sea of harmony.

　　On the afternoon of November 28, Rear Admiral Xiao Xinnian, Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai and Captain Zhu Jianda visited the destroyer Ikazuchi , a Japanese vessel that was accompanying the Chinese vessel during the visit, inspected the honor guards of the vessel under the escort of the Japanese host and held discussions with Japanese officers on the destroyer Ikazuchi.

　　In the same afternoon, the Chinese and Japanese officers and men visited each other's vessels and held discussions

　　In a friendly soccer match held on November 29, servicemen of the two countries' vessels broke with conventions to form two mixed teams according to specialties, such as navigation, observation and communication. Likewise in the tug-of-war competition, the officers and men of the two countries also formed the opposing teams in a mixed way.

　　One of the bright spots of the ongoing visit is a joint performance given by the PLA Navy Military Band that has come along with the destroyer Shenzhen, and the Military Band of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. At the welcoming ceremony, it teamed up with the Military Band of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force for the first time to play the Chinese music Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Beautiful Grassland is My Home, Japanese folk music Song of Four Seasons and Spring in Northland , world classic music eulogizing peace and friendship as well as songs reflecting naval life. Conductors of the two military bands also directed their bands respectively to jointly play the national anthems of China and Japan, the first of its kind in the history of intercourse between China and Japan.

　　(Nov 30, PLA Daily)