Chinese navy ships end visit to Croatia

The 19th Chinese naval escort fleet ended its goodwill visit to Croatia and left Lora Naval base on Friday.

During the 5-day visit, the fleet was welcomed by the Croatian navy and the government.

Rear Admiral Jiang Guoping, commanding officer of the 19th Chinese naval escort fleet, met with Croatian navy commander Commodore Predrag Stipanovic and other officers, as well as Mayor of Split, Ivo Baldasar.

The fleet held a deck reception and "open day" visit to the ships for local citizens. During the visit, experience exchange between both sides and a football tournament were organized.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, with other high-ranking civil and military officials, including Deputy Speaker of parliament Nenad Stazic, the Chief of General Staff of Croatian armed forces General Drago Lovric and the navy Commander Commodore Predrag Stipanovic, aboard the missile frigates Linyi on Thursday evening attending a deck reception, hosted by the 19th Chinese escort fleet.

Addressing the reception, she highly commended the contributions the Chinese escort fleet has made towards the freedom and safety of dangerous international sea routes and expressed her anticipation of the strengthening of cooperation between the two armies and countries.

The 19th Chinese naval escort fleet, comprised of the missile frigates Linyi, Weifang and the supply ship Weishanhu, arrived in Lora, Split, the coastal city of Croatia on June 1.