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By Mark Duell for MailOnline
Published: 17:32 GMT, 12 January 2015 | Updated: 09:37 GMT, 14 January 2015
- Chinese ambassador and flag-waving UK-based Chinese residents welcome ships into Portsmouth Naval Base
- Formal visit from Chinese naval ships is aimed at enhancing military understanding between itself and Britain
- Assault ship Chang Bai Shan has been accompanied by frigate Yun Cheng and replenishment ship Chaohu
- Senior officers from both navies will discuss maritime topics during visit including counter-piracy operations
- Last year China increased its military budget by 12% to more than £86billion - compared to £33billion in the UK
Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming and hundreds of flag-waving UK-based Chinese residents welcomed the ships into Portsmouth Naval Base.
Heading a task group on enhancing military understanding between the two countries is the assault ship Chang Bai Shan.
She was accompanied by the frigate Yun Cheng and the replenishment ship Chaohu at the Hampshire dockyard.
During the five-day visit, senior officers from both navies will discuss maritime topics including counter-piracy operations across the Indian Ocean.
Arrival: Three Chinese Naval ships berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard. HMS Warrior (bottom) and HMS Victory (right) can also be seen
At the front: Heading the task group on improving military understanding between the countries is the assault ship Chang Bai Shan (pictured)
Also on the scene: The assault ship has been accompanied by the frigate Yun Cheng (pictured) and the replenishment ship Chaohu
The visit comes seven months after a report from the US Pentagon which examined how China was growing the size and reach of its naval fleet.
And that followed revelations that China was increasing its military budget by 12 per cent to more than £86billion - compared to £33billion in the UK.
China now spends three times as much as India on defence - and more than neighbouring Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea put together.
Task group commander Rear Admiral Zhang Chuansha said: ‘Our visit to the UK is a good opportunity to enhance our understanding of each other.
‘It’s a great opportunity for our sailors to get exposure to local people and our counterparts in the British Navy.
‘All sailors share something in common. We share the same sea, the same international obligations such as dealing with piracy.'
Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said: ‘This visit gives a flavour of the partnership between China and the UK.
‘It is also good for the British public to understand the Chinese military and what it is able to do. It has been seven years since our last visit.
‘The world has changed and so has the reach of the Chinese navy.
'We’ve carried out 48 missions in the Gulf region in that time and helped to protect 6,000 vessels.
‘So we have a lot to talk about - there is a lot for the two navies to share.
'And this visit will go a long way to strengthening our relationship.’
Commodore Jeremy Rigby, naval base commander, said: ‘We welcome our Chinese visitors to the operational home of the Royal Navy.
‘As with our ship visits abroad, these events are not only of great diplomatic significance, but also very useful militarily given that we share similar global challenges including counter-piracy, preventing conflict, protecting our citizens overseas and supporting UN peacekeeping efforts.
‘China, like us, relies on trade at sea for its prosperity and we work together around the world.
‘The visit to Portsmouth is a really good way for us to talk, navy to navy, with like-minded sailors, sharing information on our operations.’
Crew members from all three vessels will be given tours of local attractions including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose.
They will also be shown around the Royal Navy’s newest warship, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan.
The two nations will also compete in badminton and basketball matches at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth - the Navy’s home of physical training.
The ships’ last port of call was Salalah in Oman and they will leave Portsmouth this Friday to head for Kiel in Germany.
Read more: Chinese warships wow the crowds in Portsmouth | Daily Mail Online
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