On the morning of April 23, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with heads of 29 foreign navy delegations in Qingdao. The delegations were here to participate in celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy. Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and armed forces, expressed warm welcome to the foreign navy delegations.

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong, Liang Guanglie, Member of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Minister of National Defence, Chen Bingde, Member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the General Staff of PLA, and Wu Shengli, Member of the Central Military Commission and PLA Navy Commander accompanied Present Hu during the meeting.

Hu noted that to build a "harmonious ocean", the theme of the anniversary celebrations, is an important part of building a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common prosperity, as well as a common aspiration of world people. He said that to strengthen exchanges between naval forces of different countries and conduct international maritime security cooperation is of great significance to building a "harmonious ocean". The PLA Navy had carried out a series of cooperation and exchange missions with its foreign counterparts and enhanced friendship and mutual understanding since China began its reform and opening up drive, Hu said. The PLA Navy will be more open and practical in international maritime security cooperation in the future and unremittingly work towards the goal of building a harmonious ocean, he added. International maritime security cooperation must observe the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other universally-recognized principles of international relations, he said. Hu urged the nations to respect each other's sovereignty and interests, pursue common security and development while combating conventional and unconventional threats in the oceans, and strive to seek different ways based on peace in protecting maritime safety.

Hu said China will unswervingly stick to the road of peaceful development, which demands China to adhere to its defensive national defense policy. The road of peaceful development is a strategic choice made by the Chinese government and people in line with the nation's peace-loving traditional culture, the trend of the times and the fundamental interests of China, Hu said. China would never seek hegemony, nor would it turn to military expansion or arms races with other nations, he said, adding that China will pose no military threat to any other nation. China's armed forces, including the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, will always be an important force in safeguarding world peace and development, said Hu.

Speaking for the foreign navy delegations, Admiral Julio Soaresde Moura Neto, commander of the Brazilian navy, thanked Hu for his meeting and congratulated the PLA Navy for its 60th anniversary. He also expressed his appreciation of the efforts by the Chinese government and the PLA Navy in building a harmonious ocean.