Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the extent is of the contacts between the Royal Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy of the People's Republic of China. [1016]

Nick Harvey MP; Minister for the Armed Forces: In recent years there have been a number of high level visits between the respective Chiefs of Navies and their Senior Commanders, underpinned by successful working level visits. Such activities generate greater knowledge of each others' intentions, culture and ethos, which promote mutual trust and reduce the risk of misunderstanding. The UK has recently welcomed China's participation in the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) group, which manages the plethora of multi-national and national counter-piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden. Naval ship visits also play an important part in the development of navy-to-navy relations.