BEIJING, May 30 -- “According to our annual plan, the Chinese PLA Navy will dispatch guided-missile frigate PLANS Xuchang attached to the 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce to Nigeria for a multilateral joint exercise,” said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.
According to the spokesperson, the multilateral joint exercise is themed "counter-piracy and counter-oil theft" and will include subjects such as vessel maneuver, joint patrol, and communications drills.
"The participation of the PLA Navy in the exercise will help deepen military exchanges and practical cooperation between China and relevant countries and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future," noted the spokesperson.