The Chinese naval1 hospital ship Ark Peace arrived in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa on Monday for an eight-day goodwill2 visit and humanitarian3 medical service.
中国海军和平方舟号医务船周一抵达汤加首都努库阿洛法,进行一场为期8天的友好访问与人道主义医疗服务。
Escorted by a Tongan navy patrol boat, Ark Peace, which is on Mission Harmony - 2018, arrived at Vuna
Wharf4 of Port Nukualofa.
At a grand welcome ceremony attended by Tonga's
Acting5 Prime Minister Semisi Sika, Chinese Ambassador Wang Baodong, local citizens as well as overseas Chinese and representatives of the Chinese enterprises, the Tongan royal military band played the national
anthems6 of both China and Tonga, the local people presented garlands to the commanders of the Chinese mission and the young Tongans performed local dance.
Semisi Sika warmly welcomed Ark Peace's second visit to Tonga on behalf of the Tongan government and conveyed his heartfelt
appreciations7 for the support and assistance rendered by the Chinese government and its people.
For his part, Wang said that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga, Ark Peace's visit to Tonga is of
paramount8 importance, which will help enhancing the
mutual9 benefit and cooperation between two countries in terms of health and military and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.
The commander of Mission Harmony - 2018 also said Ark Peace will help more people as always with sincere love, medical skills and services and
fulfill10 the
consensus11 reached by top leaders in Beijing in March with concrete action, so that their strategic
partnership12 can further develop and the two peoples can benefit from the
bilateral13 cooperation and exchanges.