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ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT (BNS): Chinese Navy is on a five-day visit to the North African nation with two of its naval warships having arrived at the Egypt's Mediterranean port of Alexandria, a media report said.

According to Xinhua news agency, the two naval warships, destroyer Guangzhou and frigate Chaohu have arrived at the port on Monday.

The warships are a part of the fifth Chinese naval escort flotilla.

Both ships have just returned from the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks.

“The visit is to further improve military exchange and cooperation between Chinese Navy and the navies of surrounding countries of the Somali waters,” the agency quoted, Zhang Wendan, commander of the visiting squad, as saying.

Egyptian Navy Commodore Ahmed Abdul-Aziz, chief of staff of Alexandria navy base has expressed warm welcome for the Chinese warships.

The welcome ceremony was attended by Chinese ambassador to Egypt Wu Chunhua, Chinese Consul-General to Alexandria Liu Aizhong and representatives of overseas Chinese in Egypt.

In March 2010, China's fifth naval escort flotilla with more than 800 officers and soldiers has successfully escorted 588 Chinese and foreign vessels in 41 batches since its arrival in the pirate-infested waters.

On 30th July, the warships will leave the Egyptian port to continue their Mediterranean journey.