The Chinese guided-missile destroyer Baotou from the 47th Naval Escort Task Force arrived at the Port of Mombasa on Saturday morning for a technical port call, marking the first visit by a Chinese naval vessel to Kenya in six years.
The warship, flying both Chinese and Kenyan flags, sailed into the harbour shortly after 9 a.m. and was received with ceremony by officials from the Kenya Navy, China’s Ambassador to Kenya, embassy staff, and members of the Chinese community and business sector. Crew members stood in neat formation on deck, waving to the welcoming crowd as the ship approached the berth.
According to the Chinese embassy, the port call will allow the Baotou to undergo equipment inspections and maintenance, restock essential provisions, and prepare for its next operational deployment. The visit is also part of a broader effort to deepen military-to-military and people-to-people ties between Beijing and Nairobi.
While in Kenya, the ship’s crew will take part in a series of activities, including courtesy visits to Kenyan naval facilities, cultural and sports exchanges, and joint navigation drills designed to enhance maritime cooperation and mutual understanding.
The Baotou is one of China’s most advanced guided-missile destroyers, capable of long-range escort missions and anti-piracy operations. Its stop in Mombasa underscores China’s growing naval presence along Africa’s eastern seaboard, particularly within the framework of peacekeeping and maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Kenyan defense officials hailed the visit as a symbol of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries, emphasizing that continued naval cooperation promotes regional stability and safe maritime trade routes.
