China's first maritime science exhibition opened in Beijing on Sunday at the China Science and Technology Museum, one of major activities organized to celebrate the country's 2006 Maritime Day.

 

With a blue color theme, the exhibition features more than 30 ship models, including a 300,000-ton oil tanker, a ballistic missile carrying vessel, a missile destroyer, a cruiser, a rescue ship and a foreign sloop.

 

The exhibition features electronic and high-tech demonstrations of navigation techniques and sea, air and land rescue efforts. Visitors can learn about China's history of navigation, as well as basic knowledge of shipbuilding and inspection, ocean protection and fisheries.

 

Xu Zuyuan, deputy minister of communications, said at the opening ceremony that the marine industry is one of the country's pillar industries, and the exhibition aimed to promote awareness of navigation, China's territorial waters and marine defense.

 

The government designated July 1 as China's Maritime Day in 2005.

 

The exhibition is on for the next three weeks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006)