JAKARTA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Italian warship Giuseppe Garibaldi, which is set to become Indonesia's first aircraft carrier, arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Friday morning.
A welcoming ceremony began at around 7:53 a.m. local time, with five aircraft from the Indonesian Navy's Naval Aviation Center flying over the Tanjung Priok area. The Italian government transferred the retired carrier as a gift to Indonesia.
The Indonesian Navy named the carrier KRI Sriwijaya, which will primarily focus on non-combat military operations, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, while also conducting routine maritime patrols and maritime diplomacy in key waters of the surrounding region, according to a statement by the navy's spokesman Tunggul. ■
