Ships carrying Chinese troops heading to Djibouti left Zhanjiang in southern China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday.

The Chinese Navy has been setting up a base in the country, situated in the Horn of Africa, to support peacekeeping operations, and humanitarian missions. 

China's People's Liberation Army said the decision to set up the base was reached after talks between the two countries.

After completion, the base will provide support for operations including military cooperation and the maintenance of security in strategic international waterways in Africa and West Asia.