Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark departs from Nukualofa port on August 4, 2023. (Photo by Li Kejiahe)
By Li Yun and Xu Wei
NUKUALOFA, Tonga, Aug.7 -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark concluded its visit and medical service in Tonga on August 4, and departed from the Nukualofa port for Vanuatu, the third stop of the Harmonious Mission 2023.
During the seven-day medical service, Peace Ark served 6,895 locals and overseas Chinese, with 39 operations completed. The number of treatment and operation cases via the main platform of the hospital ship per day has set the highest record since the Harmonious Mission 2023.
Meanwhile, the ship also sent eight batches of medical experts to Viola Hospital of Nukualofa and three village level health centers in the country to carry out joint diagnosis and treatment with local medical staff. The medical team arrived at the outlying Eua Island and provided medical services to over 300 villagers. Besides, the naval experts also gave training lessons to the Tongan navy members in rescue skills for the wounded.
During the visit to Tonga, the Chinese commander of the Harmonious Mission 2023 made courtesy calls on Tonga's Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, and Chief of Defense Staff Brigadier General Lord Fielakepa.
At the end of the visit, the Tongan side held a grand farewell ceremony. Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu and other dignitaries, together with Chinese Ambassador to Tonga Cao Xiaolin, staff of the Chinese Embassy, overseas Chinese and other representatives, came to the scene to see off the Chinese naval team.
In the end, the navies of both sides held a joint drill that mainly focused on formation movement, communication exercise, and maritime-and-aerial search and rescue in the waters off the Nukualofa port.
The Chinese and Tongan navies conduct a joint exercise in the waters off the Nukualofa port on August 4, 2023. (Photo by Li Yu)
The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark pays a goodwill visit to Tonga and provides medical service for the locals on August 2, 2023. (Photo by Xu Wei)