China concludes celebration of navy anniversary with grand fleet review

"The PLA Navy is willing to take the international fleet review as an opportunity to enhance cooperation and exchange with our foreign counterparts to better protect maritime safety," he said.

Thursday afternoon's PLA Navy parade also featured the maiden show of two Chinese nuclear submarines, the Long March 6 and the Long March 3. It was the first-ever public appearance of the PLA Navy's nuclear submarines.

"It has been the first time to see a Chinese nuclear submarine so close to me and many other advanced weaponry in the naval review," said Colonel Patrick Sice, Defense Attache with Embassy of the Republic of France to China, onboard the viewing ship Zhenghe.

"To invite so many countries to the review shows that China would open more to foreign countries and in the future more willing to cooperate deeper in the Gulf of Aden and other regions."

"China is emerging as a global power and there is nothing wrong with China's modernization of its navy and other armed forces. But more power means more responsibility and transparency. Otherwise you will lose confidence from the others," he said.

On Thursday morning, China asserted once again that the country's military build-up was purely defense-oriented.