Zheng He, the first oceangoing Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) training ship, berthed at Taicang Port in East China's Jiangsu province on April 21 for a four-day visit, reaffirming the deep bond between the ship and the historic port city.

The Zheng He navy ship moors at Taicang Port on April 21. [Photo/VCG]

The vessel, also known as CNS Zhenghe, is named after China's famed navigator Zheng He, who set off on seven legendary voyages to the West, and is mainly used for maritime training of naval academy cadets.

The ship, as a friendship envoy, has served voyages to more than 30 countries and regions, setting records in terms of single-vessel voyage distance and number of ports visited.

Student representatives send bouquets to officers of the Zheng He navy ship. [Photo/WeChat accoutnt: tcfbgw]

Taicang has maintained a strong connection with CNS Zhenghe. In 2004 — the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages, the city and the ship formalized a "double support" agreement to enhance naval-civilian relationship. The voyager has since made stops at Taicang Port in April 2011 and on April 27, 2017, respectively.

The ship's voyages have spanned three oceans and six continents, embodying China's unwavering commitment to maritime strength. Taicang continues to serve as a steadfast supporter of CNS Zhenghe's development, providing robust back-up to ensure the success of its missions.