Peoples Liberation Army Navy Training Ship ZHENGE at anchor (photo courtesy of Chinese Embassy)
10 September 2010
Two Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships will be visiting Auckland 11 to 15 September 2010.
The training ship ZHENGHE and frigate MIANYANG are visiting to further enhance the friendly relations between China and New Zealand, as well as the two armed forces, to deepen understanding through close contacts, and to promote practical exchanges and cooperation between our two navies and naval colleges.
The ships will berth at 10am on 11 September 2010 at Queens Wharf, Ports of Auckland. The Royal New Zealand Navy Band will be at Queens Wharf to welcome the ships to Auckland.
The task force is commanded by PLAN Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Leng Zhenqing. There are 360 crew and 208 cadets from four PLA naval academies, Dalian Naval Command College, the Naval Engineering University, Naval Aviation Engineering College and Bengbu Naval Training School on board the ships. Among them are 20 female cadets.
During the three month long range training voyage the ships have visited Moresby, Port Vila and Nukualofa before Auckland and the next leg is to Sydney.
This is the first time the PLAN has conducted on board training in the South Pacific that has included cadets from four naval academies. The visit also sees for the first time foreign midshipmen, two each from the Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal Australian Navy, invited to board a PLAN ship and train together with their Chinese counterparts.
Both ships will be open to the public on Sunday, 12 September 2010 from 9am to 3pm at Queens Wharf, ports of Auckland.
Media Opportunities
Saturday 11 September 2010
1000 - Ships berth at Queens Wharf
Sunday 12 September 2010
0900-1500
Ships open to the public on Queens Wharf
1300-1400
PLAN Band to play at Edmund Hillary Retirement Village
Monday 13 September 2010
1200-1300
RNZN and PLAN bands play at a public concert at Windsor Reserve in Devonport
1500
PLAN cadets visit the Devonport Naval Base
Tuesday 14 September 2010
0900-1000
Wero and Powhiri for Rear Admiral Leng Zhenqing and crews at Te Taua Moana Marae, Ngataringa Bay.
1030-
1200 - Sports competitions between the RNZN and PLAN in basketball, soccer and tug of war.
1800-1930
Reception on board ZHENGE media opportunity to interview Rear Admiral Leng Zhenqing.
Wednesday 15 September 2010
1000
PLAN ships depart Queens Wharf for Sydney accompanied by HMNZS WELLINGTON AND ROTOITI
ENDS
Ships Particulars
Name ZHENGE MIANYANG
Hull Number 81 528
Type Training Ship Frigate
Commanding Officer Captain Fan Kuiju Lieutenant Commander Zhangyu
Displacement 6100 tons 2230 tons
Length 132m 112m
Beam 16m
12.4m
Masthead 34.5m
31m
Freeboard 5m 4.3m
Draught 6.5m 3.8m
Helicopter - nil
Call Sign BNBA BNBB
Call Sign (Voice) ZHENGE MIANYANG
Total combined personnel 568
For further information on the visit and requests for interviews please contact Lieutenant Sarah Campbell - Media Adviser on 021 244 0638.