French frigate visits China for 13th time

Vendemiaire (F734), a French Navy frigate, started a four-day goodwill visit to China's eastern city of Qingdao on Saturday.

The frigate arrived in the morning at a naval port of China's North Sea Fleet in Qingdao, Shandong Province. This is Vendemiaire's fourth visit to Qingdao and its 13th to China.

The visit will include sightseeing, warship visits, cultural and expertise exchanges and other activities.

On Friday afternoon, Vendemiaire and the Weifang, a Chinese Navy missile frigate, conducted joint exercises in formation movement, small-caliber cannon firing, underway replenishment and communications in waters near Qingdao.

The two frigates will also carry out joint drills in cannon firing and landing each other's helicopters.