Port of Spain, Trinidad (Trinidad Express) — The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Kenrick Maharaj, was paid a courtesy call on Wednesday by Major General Yu Chao and a Military Delegation comprising high ranking Officers from the Republic of China Armed Forces.
The delegation which was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago His Excellency Huang Xingyuan, met with Major General Maharaj and other senior members of the Force. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen the long standing relationship between the militaries and to discuss military training opportunities between both countries. During their four hour visit at the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas, the delegation also met with members of the Defence Force who would have recently benefited from various types of training in China.
In his welcome address Maj Gen Maharaj thanked the People’s Liberation Army for providing a wide range of training and equipment to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force over the last decade.
Major Gen Maharaj in emphasising the strong and longstanding bond of friendship and brotherhood that has been established between these two militaries over the years cited the Chinese proverb, “a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near”.
In honour of Major General Yu Chao visit to the Defence Force Headquarters, he was given a general salute by a Quarter Guard and a short tour of the Defence Force Operations Command Centre. The visitors were also serenaded by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra.
The delegation visited the Jamaica Defence Force before coming to Trinidad and Tobago. The Chinese military delegation departs our shores tomorrow to return to China.