FROM: The Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense（MND）

SUBJECT: Issues on the PLA Navy sending navy ships to carry out escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Coastal area.

WHEN: 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 23, 2008

WHERE: Briefing Hall of the Information Office of the MND, No. 6, De Sheng Men Wai Da Jie, Beijing, China

WHO: Rear Admiral Xiao Xinnian, Deputy Chief of the Staff of PLA Navy; Sr Captain Ma Luping, Director of the Navy Bureau of the Operations Department of the General Staff Headquarters; and Sr. Col. Huang Xueping, Spokesperson of the MND.

CONTACT: 86-10-62355893

NOTE: For those who want to come to the press conference, please send your information(media affiliation, name, phone) to 62355893(Fax) by 17:00, December 22nd. To ensure the efficiency of the press conference, any questions concerning the topic are warmly welcome to 62355893.

(China.org.cn December 22, 2008)