BEIJING, Aug. 29 -- The Silk Road Ark, China's second self-designed and home-developed ocean-going hospital ship, features a larger full-load displacement, a longer sailing range and more advanced medical equipment, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference on Thursday.

It is reported that the Silk Road Ark has provided medical treatment and other services in Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and coastal areas of South China. According to the spokesperson, the Silk Road Ark traveled more than 3,600 nautical miles in 29 days since setting sail from the naval port in Zhanjiang on July 10, and it successfully accomplished the mission of providing medical aid to the PLA service members stationed on China's sea frontiers as of August 7. During the mission, the hospital ship has offered medical services to over 3,500 patients from 18 islands and reefs of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and coastal areas of South China, and simultaneously carried out activities such as popularizing knowledge concerning island disease prevention.

Going forward, the Silk Road Ark will mainly perform four major tasks: firstly, providing medical treatment and evacuation for the injured at sea; secondly, offering medical services to civilians and service members on the islands and reefs; thirdly, carrying out international humanitarian medical services; and fourthly, providing emergency medical service to respond to major disasters and engaging in international exchanges and cooperation on military medical service, noted the spokesperson.

"The PLA Navy will stay committed to the vision of building a maritime community with a shared future and provide more public security goods for the international community," said the spokesperson.