MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Commander in Chief of Chinese Navy on official visit to Chile

Admiral Wu Shengli (Photo: Armada de Chile)

In the framework of the close relations between Chile and China, the commander of the Chinese Navy, Admiral Wu Shengli was scheduled to arrive Sunday in Santiago for an official several days visit, according to a release from the Chilean Navy.

Admiral Wu Shengli is scheduled to visit different naval establishments and bases and will also participate in a round of conferences on naval issues, “of interest for both services”.

The top Chinese officer will be hosted by his Chilean counterpart Admiral Edmundo González Robles, and one of his first activities is to visit Valparaíso, for the official exchange of honours at Chile’s main naval establishment.

The program includes an informative conference by the Deputy head of the Navy’s Chief of Staff, Commodore Jorge Cruz Jaramillo.

During the week Admiral Wu Shengli is scheduled to visit the Chilean Navy’s Hydrographs and Oceanographic Service, SHOA, the Naval School “Arturo Prat” and will be received by Defence minister Jaime Ravinet.

Last year on occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Navy, Chile’s then Commander in chief of the Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina Diaz was invited to China and offered a conference on “Chile’s maritime scenario”. Navies from 29 different countries were invited to the celebration held in April 2009 at the port of Tsintao.

According to US sources later confirmed by Beijing, the Chinese navy should be launching its first operation aircraft carrier by 2012.