国内英语新闻:China's search-and-rescue vessel "Haixun 01" visits Australia

SYDNEY, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's largest search-and-rescue vessel "Haixun 01" arrived at Sydney's Garden Island port Saturday on its first international voyage.

A welcome ceremony was held at the port in the morning, attended by Chinese ambassador to Australia Chen Yumin, Chinese consul general in Sydney Li Huaxin, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) chief Graham Peachey, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration Chief Xu Guoyi and "Haixun 01" captain Jiang Long.

AMSA Chief Graham Peachey welcomed the ship's arrival at the beginning of the ceremony, saying that the "Haixun 01" visit shows the close collaboration between Australia and China on maritime safety.

During the week-long visit, AMSA personnel will meet with their Chinese counterparts and view equipment and procedures and undertake a tabletop search and rescue exercise scheduled for Wednesday, according to Peachey.

Chen Yumin, Chinese ambassador to Australia, said at the ceremony that the maritime safety becomes more and more important to every country in the world. "Haixun 01 choosing Sydney as its first stop fully indicates Chinese sincerity in cooperating with AMSA," he said.

Afterwards, Xu Guoyi, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration chief, said the visit would enhance mutual understanding and trust, build strong relationship between the two administrations and promote Sino-Australia maritime safety exchange.

"Haixun 01" will head north to Australia's tropical city of Cairns on July 2 to attend the 14th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies forum, hosted by AMSA. The ship then will visit Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and is expected to get home on August 9.

Launched in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, in July 2012, the vessel is 128.6 meters long, can sail 18,520 kilometers without refueling, and can accommodate up to 200 people rescued at sea.

It is also kitted out with medical equipment to offer basic treatment and surgery to injured people, and has a helipad complete with helicopter, and is able to tow and put out fires on ships.