¡¡¡¡ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, June 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A Chinese naval fleet on Friday took up a berth at the northern Egyptian port city of Alexandria at the start of a five-day visit to Egypt.

¡¡¡¡The fleet, composed of a missile-guided destroyer, the Qingdao, and a supply ship, the Taicang, crossed the Suez Canal on Wednesdayduring its round-the-world maiden voyage in China's Navy history.

¡¡¡¡While extending a warm welcome to the Chinese fleet led by Ding Yiping, commander of the North China Sea Fleet, more than 200 people waved national flags of the two countries.

¡¡¡¡Speaking to reporters on the scene, Commander Ding, who is also in charge of the current operations, said that the fleet is taking with it a message of peace and friendship for the Mideast region and the world at large.

¡¡¡¡"The fleet's current visit to Egypt, the first ever in the history of exchanges between the two naval forces, will help promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries and armed forces," he said.

¡¡¡¡During the visit, Ding is expected to pay a courtesy call to local officials and the Egyptian navy commander.

¡¡¡¡The two warships with more than 500 crew members on board were designed and built in China. They weighed anchor at a naval port inChina's eastern port city of Qingdao on May 15. Enditem

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