Top Chinese general:"Peace Ark" visit upholds humanitarian spirit

The ongoing Latin American trip of Chinese navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" carries forward the international humanitarian spirit, visiting Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong said Wednesday. Guo made the remarks during an inspection to the vessel. He also described the visit of the "Peace Ark" as an activity which expands international friendship and advocates Chinese traditional medicine. The hospital ship arrived in Havana Friday, the first stop of its four-nation goodwill visit to the Caribbeans and Central America. It left Cuba later Wednesay to continue a trip which also takes it to Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Costa Rica. The visit exhibits China's fulfillment of international obligations and its image as a responsible major country, Guo said. He called on the crew members to actively provide humanitarian medical services to civilians and armies in visited places, carry out medical exchanges with their counterparts, and fully display the image of a civilized force and a force of peace. Guo encouraged the crew members to make full efforts to ensure the success of the visit, and to contribute to the consolidation and development of friendship with the visited countries. The fact that both Chinese and Cuban military leaders attach great importance to the visit of the "Peace Ark" highlighted the exceptional friendship between the two countries, Guo added. Guo is on a three-nation official visit, which will also take him to Colombia and Peru.