Chinese hospital ship "Ark Peace" on Wednesday arrived at Thilawa Port in Yangon at the invitation of Myanmar Navy as part of an overseas voyage to provide medical services to local residents.

It is the ship's first goodwill visit to Myanmar. Led by Commander Shen Hao, who is also the former deputy chief of staff of the East Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy Rear Admiral, it is to provide medical service to local people and militaries, and conduct medical exchanges.

The current visit and medical service will definitely promote mutual understanding and trust between Chinese and Myanmar militaries and further consolidate the traditional friendship between China and Myanmar, Shen Hao said.

"We are looking forward to furthering pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with foreign navies, working in joint effort to build a harmonious world and a harmonious ocean and playing an active role in maintaining the world peace and tranquillity," he added.

"Ark Peace" is the first indigenous maritime hospital, with full load displacement over 10,000 tons.

The hospital ship has 300 beds, 20 ICUs, eight surgical operating theatres, and is capable of accommodating 40 major surgeries a day.

During the hospital ship's one-week visit to Myanmar, medical crew will provide free on board service for local residents as well as Myanmar military personnel which include outpatient service, hospital care, surgical treatment and health check.

Medical teams will also be dispatched to selected local communities and primary schools to provide heath check and treatment. Activities such as demonstration of traditional Chinese medical treatment, academic and cultural exchanges are also being planned.

Before sailing to Myanmar, "Ark Peace" had visited Brunei, Maldives, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The ship will extend it sail to Indonesia and Cambodia soon.

In 2010 and 2011, the Chinese Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" visited five countries in Asia and African and four countries in Latin America to carry out "Mission Harmony" humanitarian medical service missions.

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