The visit of the two ships, guided missile destroyer "Shenzhen" and support vessel "Fengcang", was the first by Chinese naval ships to Germany.

Navy officials of the two countries stressed that the two ships played a special role in strengthening bilateral relationship and maintaining world peace.

Commander of the naval ships Wu Fuchun expressed his hope that the relationship between the two navies could be expanded.

Inspector of the German Federal Navy Hans Luessow said that the terrorist attacks in the United States showed that a global cooperation of the naval forces was needed.

German naval ships visited Shanghai, China, in 1997, said German navy officials. And a visit by German ships to Qingdao, another eastern port of China, has also been planned, they said.

The two Chinese ships are on a European tour which will also take them to Britain, France and Italy. They will head for Britain from Germany's northern port of Wilhelmshaven on Friday.

(People's Daily 09/28/2001)