Brisbane welcomes three Chinese warships following exercise

Three Chinese navy ships have docked in Brisbane after spending two nights conducting exercises with an Australian vessel off the cost of Queensland.

The Luyang Class destroyer Jinan, the Jiangkai Class frigate Yiyang and the Fuchi Class replenishment ship Qindaohu will spent five days in the River City, following a busy tour of duty conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden last year.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy ships have already visited a host of other countries, before arriving in Queensland – one of the last ports of call before returning home.

HMAS Darwin helped guide the ships into Brisbane following the joint exercise.

“The Chinese task group have been exercising throughout the region, they've also been doing operations prior to this visit,” Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Commander Craig Flynn said.

“It was a basic exercise where the ships were maneuvering, it promotes interoperability between the two navies.”

Australia's Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett said the visit was a good opportunity for navies from both countries to better understand how each operated.

Today, hundreds of locals gathered at the harbor for a rockstar welcome.