Defence Minister visits Chinese navy’s North Sea Fleet
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen (left), accompanied by the People’s Liberation Army Navy RADM Wei Gang (centre), was brought on a tour onboard Fushun. (Photo: MINDEF)
SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen visited the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) North Sea Fleet in Qingdao on Tuesday (Nov 11).
He was briefed by Chief of Staff PLAN NSF Rear Admiral Wei Gang and viewed the Type-056 Jiangdao-class corvette Fushun, giving him greater understanding of the Chinese navy’s development and modernisation plans.
Dr Ng’s visit underscores the warm and friendly ties between the PLA and the Singapore Armed Forces, the Defence Ministry said in a news release.
“It reflects mutual confidence. We are a very small navy, and they know that we are China’s good friend and bilateral relations from the defence point of view are very strong. We treasure each other’s confidence in each other, and we will continue to find ways to step up that defence relationship,” said Dr Ng.
Both countries’ navies interact regularly through port calls, bilateral exercises, multilateral events, and international deployments such as counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
Dr Ng was also hosted to an official dinner by Commander of Qingdao Garrison Senior Colonel Wang Chunjie on Tuesday evening.
He will visit Beijing on Wednesday and deliver a speech at the PLA National Defense University on the Asian Century on Thursday.