First Person | Shen Hao

The Peace Ark voyage is an important military and diplomatic mission. For me, it is a great responsibility and a great honor to be the commander.

This trip is the first significant diplomatic task undertaken by the Chinese navy since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November. The voyage is intended to develop friendly relations with neighboring countries and also to raise the profile of the Chinese navy.

It will be the first time the Peace Ark has participated in a large-scale joint drill with ASEAN, and also the first time that the vessel has provided medical services for foreign soldiers and officers serving in the Gulf of Aden.

China has long participated in global humanitarian affairs and supported the work of many international organizations, including the World Health Organization.

In the past five decades, Chinese medical aid teams have helped more than 260 million people across the globe. In the past five years, the country has sent medical teams to countries on more than 200 occasions to provide humanitarian aid after natural disasters and severe outbreaks of disease.

This year's mission will help to improve multinational cooperation in disaster rescue and military medicine. It will also be an opportunity for people from overseas to gain a deeper understanding of China and her navy.

Shen Hao was talking to Peng Yining and Ju Zhenhua

(China Daily USA 06/19/2013 page8)