Chinese warships arrive in Cambodia ahead of drills
Two Chinese warships docked on Sunday at a commercial port in Cambodia in preparation for joint naval exercises between the two countries, with Beijing's ambassador hailing their "ironclad" friendship. The Jingangshan amphibious warfare ship and Qijiguang training ship sailed in to the Sihanoukville Port, as part of 15 days of land and sea drills involving 760 Chinese military personnel along with around 1,300 Cambodians and 11 Cambodian vessels. The Qijiguang bore a banner reading "Bring peace and friendship to meet good friends" as it approached the port. "We are ironclad friends," Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian told reporters on the shore. “The cooperation between the two armies, between China and Cambodia, is conducive to the security of both countries and the security of the region." The Jingangshan and the Qijiguang are due to take part in exercises from the Ream Naval Base. The joint training is the naval component of the ongoing Golden Dragon exercises, which are regularly held between the two countries. (AP & AFP)