The Pakistan Navy (PN) and PLAN Bilateral Exercise, code-named Sea Guardians-2020, kicked off at the Pakistan Navy Dock Yard in Karachi, Pakistan on January 6 morning. The joint drill will be held from January 6 to 14 in waters of northern Arabian Sea "with the purpose of enhancing security cooperation between the two countries, consolidating the development of the all-weather strategic partnership, and promoting the joint construction of a safe marine environment." Vice Admiral Dong Jun, General Director of the Chinese side and Deputy Commander of PLA Southern Theater Command, and Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq, General Director of the Pakistani side and commander of the Pakistan Naval Fleet spoke at the opening ceremony as did Rear Admiral Huang Fengzhi, Commanding Officer of the Chinese participating forces and Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy. Those attending included the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, Chinese Military Attaché to Pakistan Chen Wenrong, staff members of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions, Chinese students and local overseas Chinese welcomed the Chinese warships at the dock. The Chinese participating naval ships, including the guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan (Hull 175), the guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571), the comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu (Hull 887), and the submarine rescue ship Liugongdao (Hull 865).
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