Three Chinese naval vessels with 800 sailors docked in Germany’s Hamburg harbor for the first time in history on Monday, Michael Setzer, the Commander of Hamburg’s Military Liaison Office, said.
The dock landing ship, Chang Beishan, the frigate Yun Cheng and the supply ship Chao Hu were due to stay in the harbor until Saturday.
Setzer expects the visit to foster mutual cultivation of friendly relations and international understanding. The Chinese delegation is expected to visit an officer school in Flensburg-Muerwik, a sergeant school in Ploen and a maritime safety training centre in Neustadt during the short stay.
German navy says that the three ships took part in a mission several weeks ago against pirates in the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia. They were joined by EU, NATO and American units.
Port of Hamburg is the largest German port and the second largest container port of Europe.