??? Sailors of the hospital ship Peace Ark raise flags. The hospital ship Peace Ark of the Chinese PLA Navy arrived at the Port of Brisbane at around 10:00 on October 7, 2015, local time, kicking off a 5-day friendly port visit to Australia. (Photo by Jiang Shan)

　　BRISBANE, Oct. 8 (ChinaMil) -- The hospital ship Peace Ark of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which is performing the task codenamed "Harmonious Mission-2015", arrived at the Port of Brisbane at around 10:00 on October 7, 2015, local time, kicking off a 5-day friendly port visit to Australia.

　　This is the hospital ship Peace Ark's first visit to Australia. A welcome ceremony was held at the wharf. More than 200 people, including staff of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, representatives of the Chinese institutions, Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese, and some officers and soldiers of the Royal Australian Navy, participated in the ceremony.

　　This visit to Australia on invitation is the first stop of the hospital ship's "Harmonious Mission-2015" task. Both sides will conduct extensive exchanges in such fields as military, medicine and culture during the port visit.

　　The medical staff of the hospital ship Peace Ark will go to the Health Center of the Base Amberley of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Brisbane Hospital and so on for exchanges.

　　In addition, the hospital ship Peace Ark will also arrange physical examinations for the staff of the Chinese embassy and consulate in Australia and their families, provide diagnosis and treatment services for people of the Chinese institutions, Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese, and organize Warship Open Day activities.

　　Previously, the hospital ship Peace Ark set sail from its home port Zhoushan in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 respectively to perform the "Harmonious Mission", which aims at enhancing exchange with foreign militaries, promoting cultural communication with foreign nations and providing medical service for local people. This is the fifth time for the Peace Ark to perform the "Harmonious Mission".