Special Report:  China Marks 60th Anniversary of Navy

    QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's inspection of an international fleet commenced on Thursday afternoon in waters off Qingdao, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

    A total of 21 visiting naval vessels from 14 countries took part in the review with the rhythms of "March of the Review," a Chinese melody usually played for formal occasions. All the foreign ships flew their flags at full-staff.

    The foreign vessels lined up in a row in the order of combatant ships, landing craft, auxiliary ships and a sailing ships for training. In each category, the order of placement was based on tonnages.

    President Hu, aboard the PLA Navy destroyer Shijiazhuang, first passed by the Russian cruiser CG-011 Varyag, a 11,500-tonne vessel which was commissioned in 1989 and carries 529 crew.

    Known for its sophisticated missile, torpedo and artillery systems, the Slava-class cruiser is the flagship of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet.

    Hu also reviewed other visiting vessels.

    The Japan-based USS Fitzgerald from the 7th fleet, a 6,800-tonne destroyer, represents the highest level of U.S. navy destroyers. It was the world's first missile destroyer equipped with a Zeus Shield system and invisibility design.

    Commissioned in October 1995, the USS Fitzgerald carries 280 soldiers and officers. It was also one of two U.S. vessels to take part in the second-phase of the first China-U.S. search and rescue exercise in 2006 in the South China Sea.

    The Indian naval Delhi-class destroyer D62 Mumbai, commissioned in 2001, has a complement of 328 people and a tonnage of 6,700 tonnes.

    Another Indian warship the INS Ranvir, commissioned in 1986, is the fourth of the five Rajput-class destroyers built by India.

    The DDH-979 Gang Gam Chan, Commissioned in 2007, is one of the Republic of Korea's new-generation destroyers. The Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer has a complement of 200 people and a tonnage of 5,500 tonnes.

    The PNS Badr 184, transferred to Pakistan from the United Kingdom Royal Navy in 1994, has a displacement of 3,641 tonnes. The ship's complement is 284 soldiers and officers.

    The Anzac-class frigate F111 Te Mana of New Zealand, commissioned in 1999, has a complement of 163 people and a tonnage of 3,600 tonnes. A naval task force consisting of Royal New Zealand Navy's replenishment ship Endeavour and the frigate Te Mana visited Shanghai in 2003.