China sets up base in Djibouti

Beijing July 11 (IANS) Ships carrying Chinese military personnel left Zhanjiang in southern China s Guangdong Province on Tuesday to set up a support base in Djibouti.

Shen Jinlong Commander of the People s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy read an order on constructing the base in Djibouti and conferred the military flag on the fleet Xinhua news agency reported.

The establishment of the PLA Djibouti base was a decision made by the two countries after friendly negotiations and accords with the common interest of the people from both sides according to the PLA navy.

The base will ensure China s performance of missions such as escorting peace-keeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and west Asia.

The base will also be conducive to overseas tasks including military cooperation joint exercises evacuating and protecting overseas Chinese and emergency rescue as well as jointly maintaining security of international strategic seaways.

--IANS
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