As the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) approaches, Wang Yu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Mayor of Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, recently led a delegation to Dalian’s Lüshun Port to engage in joint activities with the Navy’s Zheng He ship, expressing sincere greetings and holiday wishes to the people’s soldiers, and deepening cooperation in joint support and camaraderie between the military and civilian communities.

The delegation from Taicang boarded the Zheng He ship to tour the ship’s equipment and facilities, gaining detailed insights into the lives and training of the officers and soldiers. The delegation expressed that, in the hearts of the people of Taicang, the Zheng He ship is not just a shining “national emblem,” but also our most reliable support and deepest concern in the deep blue maritime territory. Taicang will always prioritize national defense and be devoted to the navy, viewing support for the construction of the Zheng He ship as an inherent duty and responsibility. We will continue to serve as the “family members” of all officers and soldiers, fostering unity between the military and civilian sectors, and working together to write a new chapter in the modern era of dual support efforts.

The officers and crew of the Zheng He-class ship expressed their gratitude to Taicang for its long-term support, stating that they would faithfully fulfill the mission and tasks of the People’s Navy in the new era, continuously deepen cooperation with Taicang in military-civilian support and joint construction, and work together to build a steel fortress.

As China’s first ocean training ship designed and constructed independently, the Zheng He ship has been in service since its launch in 1987, covering hundreds of thousands of nautical miles, visiting over 30 countries, and setting numerous records for the longest single-ship voyage of a People’s Navy vessel, the highest operational rate, and the highest number of visits. The Taicang Municipal People’s Government and the Navy’s Zheng He ship jointly held a ceremony to inaugurate the National Defense and Science and Technology Education Base in 2004, officially signing a mutual support and joint construction agreement. Over the past 22 years, frequent exchanges and mutual visits between the military and civilian sectors have become a distinctive feature of Taicang’s dual support work. (Looking into the New Era)