Ankara: China's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, Shandong, accompanied by naval vessels, made its inaugural docking in Hong Kong on Thursday. The event has drawn significant attention, as the carrier will be open for public visits until Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the naval group includes the missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang, as well as the missile frigate Yuncheng. This visit coincides with two significant anniversaries: the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997, and the imposition of the national security law in 2020.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed that Shandong's presence allows residents to "experience the grandeur and advancement of the nation's modernization firsthand and know more about the results of the modernization of the nation's defense," as reported by Radio Television Hong Kong. Lee also mentioned that the event provides an opportunity for people to observe the navy and enhance their "sense of national pride."

This marks the second occasion a Chinese aircraft carrier has visited Hong Kong, following the visit of Liaoning in July 2017.