Royal NZ Navy Revisits Shanghai

The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate Te Mana, commanded by Commander Andel, visited China on a goodwill visit for five days in May, according to The Peoples Daily. The visit began at the Yangtze River Dock in Shanghai. The Te Mana first visited Shanghai in June 2005 and this is its second visit. After the frigate’s arrival in Shanghai, Commander Andel led main officers to pay an official visit to Li Yujie, commander of a maritime garrison command stationed in Shanghai under the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and officials of the Shanghai Municipal Government. On the evening of the same day, the maritime garrison command held a welcome reception for the Te Mana. During the visit, Chinese and New Zealand naval officers and men visited each other’s warships, attended an exchange symposium and held a friendly basketball match. The New Zealand officers and men visited the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and the Yu Garden. Upon the conclusion of the visit, Chinese and New Zealand warships will also conduct a joint maritime drill. Inchon, in northwest South Korea, is the next stop for the frigate.