Shenzhen served as flagship of the South Sea Fleet and made goodwill visits to Africa in 2000, Europe in 2001, and Japan in 2007. In 2009 it joined China's second anti-piracy task group in the Gulf and visited Pakistan and India on the return journey. These deployments gave the ship a substantial role in representing China overseas. Its flagship accommodation included spaces suited to larger diplomatic functions and visits by foreign dignitaries.
Notable Point · 37:17-38:21
Shenzhen's flagship spaces supported an overseas diplomatic career
Goodwill visits and anti-piracy deployments made Shenzhen a regular representative of China's expanding naval presence.