After a quick tour of the Peace Ark, Capt. James Fanell with the U.S. Seventh Fleet, who came from the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, said that he was glad to see the increasing openness of the Chinese navy.

A Chinese navy officer (in white) guides heads of foreign naval delegations to visit Chinese warships and a submarine in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, April 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

"I was here five years ago on the USS Cushing. The openness shown by the international fleet review is much greater than that of five years ago," Fanell said.

"It is very encouraging and appreciated to be able to walk aboard the ship and see ships of the Chinese fleet as well as other ships of the international community," he said.

For Adm. Moura Neto of the Brazilian Navy, the Chinese navy's transparency was as surprising as its modernization.

"I saw the real China and the real PLA navy," he said.

China launched a grand maritime ceremony Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of its navy off the coast of the eastern city of Qingdao.

The four-day celebration includes seminars, a sampan race and a fleet review scheduled for Thursday that will feature the debut of the country's nuclear submarines.

A total of 21 foreign naval vessels from 14 countries, including the United States and Russia, and delegations from 29 countries will take part.

According to Ding Yiping, deputy commander of the PLA Navy, the celebration was the first large multi-lateral military exchange of its kind in the history of the People's Republic of China.

Naval forces from different countries had voiced support for China's call to seek mutual trust and benefits, and resolve disputes on the basis of equal consultations and negotiations, he said.

Their support would help build harmony on the seas, the theme of this year's celebration, he said.

Adm. Gary Roughead, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, also said that the PLA and U.S. navies had much potential for cooperation in international humanitarian aid and joint maritime rescues in the West Pacific.

"I believe any time one can address problems cooperatively, it makes for a more harmonious outcome. That's why I look forward to continue to work with the PLA Navy," Roughead told Xinhua at a naval symposium held in Qingdao.

"I think navies are good opportunities to advance military-to-military relations as part of an overall relationship between nations," he said.

Chinese navy officers visit the South Korean navy's assault ship Dokdo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, April 22, 2009. Part of foreign naval vessels which came to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy were open to the public on Wednesday.

A boy poses with marines of the sailing ship ARM Cuauhtemoc of the Mexican Navy in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, April 22, 2009.

A woman takes photographs of the "Dokdo" amphibious assault ship from the Republic of Korea in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2009.