A Chinese escort naval fleet arrived in Madagascar for a five-day visit on Friday. The fleet, which comprises two frigates and a supply ship, reached the port of Tamatave at around 10 a.m. local time (GMT+3). Members of the Chinese community led by Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Yang Xiaorong welcomed the fleet at the port, which is 360 kilometers north of the country’s capital, Antananarivo. The convoy is the 25th Chinese escort naval fleet, aiming to enhance cultural exchanges and promote friendship. During its Madagascar visit, it will host a series of activities including fleet opening day, a reception on the deck and recreational activities with local soldiers.

Since December 2008, authorized by the United Nations, the Chinese navy has been sending task forces to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters for escort missions. The 25th Chinese escort naval fleet arrived in Madagascar after finishing a four-month mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. Madagascar, an island country in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa, is the fourth-largest island in the world. Since China and Madagascar established diplomatic relations in November 1972, bilateral economic and trade relations have strengthened immensely.