China's PLA Navy hospital ship Auspicious Ark set sail from Qingdao on Wednesday for its first overseas humanitarian mission, heading to Africa and South Asia as part of Mission Harmony-2026.

During the more than 200-day voyage, Chinese medical professionals will provide free medical services to local communities, with the ship equipped for examinations, treatment and surgery across multiple specialties.

Mission Harmony-2026 marks the 12th overseas humanitarian medical mission in the series since 2010.