Xi hails commissioning of deep-ocean drilling vessel

President Xi Jinping has called for continuous efforts to make the best use of a new deep-ocean drilling vessel, named Mengxiang, or Dream, which was commissioned on Sunday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

In a congratulatory letter sent to all organizations and people involved in the project, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the successful trial run and commissioning of the Mengxiang marks an important step in China's deep-ocean access, exploration and development.

It also marks a new significant achievement in turning the country into a great power in marine sectors, as well as in science and technology, he wrote.