The Chinese Navy will host an International Fleet Review – a multinational naval exercise at the eastern port city of Qingdao on April 23-24. The event is being held to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The navies of thirteen countries will take part in the joint naval exercise.
The United States had been invited to participate in the fleet review but the U.S. government responded saying that it will not send a ship but will observe the review.
INS Shivalik will be part of the joint naval exercise. The year 2014 has been declared as the “Year of Friendly Exchanges” between India and China. The visit by INS Shivalik highlights the friendly exchanges and bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.
The event commemorating the PLAN’s anniversary will be followed by a meet of the 21 member Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) of which India is an observer.
The Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) comprises navies whose countries border the Pacific Ocean region. Under the WPNS, member countries convene biennially to discuss regional and global maritime issues.