China's largest search-and-rescue ship concludes goodwill visit to Australia, Southeast Asia (4)

Chinese patrol and search-and-rescue vessel "Haixun 01" left Malaysia for home on Sunday, concluding its goodwill visit to Australia and three Southeast Asian countries.

Officials of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia and representatives of Chinese enterprises waved off China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA)'s largest and most advanced vessel at port Klang.

During the visit to Malaysia, crew and officials of "Haixun 01" held discussion with their Malaysian counterparts to exchange experience and lessons on maritime operations. They also visited Malaysian airports to learn how Malaysian agencies operate maritime petrol planes and Malaysian Maritime Institute to learn how Malaysia trains its sailors.

Malaysia was the last leg of the ship's overseas voyage. It has visited Australia, Indonesia and Myanmar after embarking on a 62- day voyage on June 10. The voyage was arranged according to the decision of 11th meeting of transport ministers of ASEAN and China held in Bali, Indonesia in 2012.

Xu Guoyi, director-general of Shanghai MSA, said three goals were achieved during the overseas visit.

"First, we boost our capability and skills to safeguard maritime transportation by sharing experience with our counterparts in Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia; Secondly, we trained our crew by practising all our equipment and contingency plans during the voyage as well as joint exercises with Australia, Indonesia and Myanmar maritime departments," he told reporters.

"Thirdly, we have promoted the spirit of peace and friendship of the Chinese people and the Chinese government, displayed the fruits of China's modernization to the world, especially the overseas Chinese," he added.

"Haixun 01" was officially put into service in April and is the first Chinese patrol vessel to simultaneously incorporate marine inspection and rescue functions. Launched in July 2012, the 128.6- meter-long and 16-meter-wide vessel with a tonnage of 5,418 tons has a maximum sailing distance of 18,520 km without refueling.