PLA Navy flotilla departs on far-seas training mission

A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy flotilla carrying more than 900 naval cadets and service members departed from a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, on Monday to continue its far-seas training and overseas visit mission.

The flotilla, designated as the PLA Navy's 83rd formation, consists of the training vessel CNS Qi Jiguang and the amphibious landing ship CNS Kunlunshan.

The cadets participating in the mission are mainly from the PLA Dalian Naval Academy. According to the training plan, nine foreign military personnel will join the Chinese cadets in mixed groups for practical training throughout the voyage.

The training program includes a range of navigation courses, such as terrestrial and celestial navigation, along with on-site instruction and specialized lectures tailored to the characteristics of the waters along the route. The mission is designed to enhance the cadets' navigation skills, professional competence, and overall capabilities, laying a solid foundation for their long-term naval careers.

During port calls in foreign countries, the flotilla will also conduct a series of exchange activities, including official meetings, deck receptions, and ship tours to promote friendship and cooperation.

Before departing on the latest leg of the mission, the 83rd flotilla completed a far-seas training program carrying cadets from the PLA Naval University of Engineering and the PLA Navy Submarine Academy, together with several foreign military personnel. The formation also visited Russia and Vietnam.

The CNS Qi Jiguang is China's largest and most advanced domestically developed dedicated naval training ship. Primarily used for at-sea practical training for cadets and naval personnel, it is widely known as the People's Navy's "mobile university at sea".

The CNS Kunlunshan is the lead vessel of the Type 071 amphibious transport dock class. Launched in December 2006 and commissioned into the PLA Navy in January 2008, the ship serves as a key platform for amphibious operations and strategic force projection.