On the morning of December 7, Abdullah Miguil, Djibouti's ambassador to China, on behalf of President Ismail Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti, awards the Independence Day Medal at the commander level to Rear Admiral Liang Yang who used to be the first commander of the Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti. Photo: China Military Online

 

The first commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti was awarded the country’s highest-level medal on Wednesday, according to an official release published by the PLA Navy on Thursday. 

It is the first time that such a highest-level medal has been awarded to a foreign garrison commander, according to the news release. 

On behalf of President Ismail Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti, Djibouti's ambassador to China Abdullah Miguil awarded the Independence Day Medal at the commander level to Chinese Rear Admiral Liang Yang, the first commander of the PLA Support Base in Djibouti and incumbent commander of a PLA naval base, on Wednesday morning.

At the awarding ceremony, the ambassador said during Liang Yang’s tenure in Djibouti, he vigorously engaged in the organization of joint exercises and training, provision of medical services for local people, and donation of teaching equipment to local schools, which forged a profound friendship with Djibouti’s government and people and greatly contributed to the close ties between the two countries and militaries. 

The ambassador said that he hoped that both sides can continue to strengthen interaction and friendly cooperation.

Rear Admiral Liang Yang said that as a witness to the friendly relations between China and Djibouti, he felt extremely honored, and that he believed that the honor of the award embodied the profound friendship between the two militaries. He also looked forward to the greater development of bilateral ties.

The Independence Day Medal of the Republic of Djibouti was created on June 27, 1977. Three levels are set for this honor, and the commander level ranks the highest, which is generally approved and awarded by the president to domestic citizens or servicemen, or foreign senior military and political officials who have made outstanding contributions to Djibouti, according to China Military Online.

Global Times