Crew members from Peace Ark carry out a rescue drill in the Gulf of Aden in 2010. [Photo by JU ZHENHUA/FOR CHINA DAILY] 

Missions overseas

Since 2010, the ship has fulfilled nine missions overseas, covering more than 444,400 kilometers and visiting 43 countries and regions across the globe. It has provided free medical services for more than 230,000 people, performed over 1,400 surgeries and helped more than 500 cataract patients regain their sight.

By implementing President Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission's naval strategy, Peace Ark has successfully completed many Mission Harmony tours, along with a number of joint disaster relief drills and joint military medical exercises, demonstrating the achievements of China's naval transformation and construction.

Peace Ark voyaged overseas for the first time between August and November 2010, sailing to the Gulf of Aden and five Asian and African countries-Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the Seychelles and Bangladesh-to carry out the Mission Harmony 2010 medical service operation. 

In Bangladesh, the doctors treated a pregnant woman who had a serious heart condition that local hospitals had not been able to treat effectively. The woman gave birth to a girl who she named Chin, meaning "China".