Naval parade marking Chinese navy's 70th anniversary concludes

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Updated at 16:15 BJT

A grand naval parade concluded on Tuesday afternoon in waters off east China's port city of Qingdao, after the reviewing ship sailed past the last visiting foreign vessel.

The parade is a part of the multinational naval events marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which was founded on April 23, 1949.

Updated at 15:18 BJT

Chinese President and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping reviewed 18 vessels from 13 countries invited to participate in the multinational naval events marking the 70th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on Tuesday afternoon.

The foreign vessels in the waters off eastern China's coastal city of Qingdao saluted Xi, who was on board the destroyer Xining, in their traditional manners as they passed by.

The destroyer Xining sounded its horn to return the salute, and Xi waved to the naval officers and soldiers aboard the vessels.

Updated at 14:30 BJT

Xi gave an order to commence the naval parade on the sea off Qingdao while on board the destroyer Xining on Tuesday afternoon.

A total of 32 vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy sailed in six groups, and 39 warplanes of the Navy flew in 10 echelons.

The vessels whistled, and officers and soldiers stood in a ceremonial formation, saluting Xi as they passed by.

"Salute to you, comrades," Xi called out to the officers and soldiers. "Hail to you, chairman," they replied.

Xi alternated the greeting with "Comrades, thanks for your hard work," to which the officers and soldiers replied, "Serve the people."

Xi will also visit foreign vessel fleets later in the parade.

Updated at 13:33 BJT

Xi inspected the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's guard of honor at the port of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center on Tuesday afternoon and also boarded the PLA Navy's guided missile destroyer Xining for a review.

Xi will later take part in a grand naval parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy with multinational vessels also taking in part.

The parade is part of the four-day multinational naval events that also feature high-level seminars and cultural and sports exchanges.

(Cover photo via Xinhua: Aerial photo taken on Aug. 11, 2017 shows the bird`s eye view of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.)

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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