A military delegation from the United States led by commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Stephen Koehler, arrived in Qingdao, Shandong Province via high-speed rail to attend the 19th Western Pacific Naval Symposium on April 21.

Prior to this, they had made a brief visit to Beijing.

The symposium is being held from April 21 to 24 in Qingdao. Hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy for the first time in ten years, the theme of this year's symposium is "Seas of Shared Future".

The event is attended by delegations from the navies or maritime defense departments of 29 countries including Australia, Cambodia, Chile, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The main leaders of the naval or maritime defense departments from 20 countries are expected to attend the event.

During the symposium, a high-level seminar will be held, and several foreign naval leaders have been invited to discuss and speak during the seminar. Additionally, leaders of the Chinese Navy will hold bilateral meetings with representatives of various countries.

China, a founding member of the symposium, previously hosted the 14th symposium in 2014.