LANGKAWI, Malaysia, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese defense companies participating in the 15th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), which kicked of here on Tuesday, drew interest of host Malaysian officials in a major gathering of global defense players.
Following the launch of the event, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited the Chinese Pavilion, the display area for several of the Chinese participating companies.
Among those represented this year are China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co., Ltd. (CSOC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
Deputy director of CSOC military trade department Ren Pengfei briefed Mahathir as he looked at the company's products including surface vessels, submarine products and torpedoes.
Ren told the media that he also had briefed Mahathir on the on-going Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) project, of which four are being built for the Malaysian Navy, with the first set to launch on April 15, with the remainder scheduled for 2020 and 2021.
The LMS is a class of large patrol vessel with a length of 69 meters and displacing 780 tons for patrol, anti-terrorism, rescue and protection of fishery activities.
The contract was signed in 2017 as the first large military equipment order between China and Malaysia.
Under the contract, China will design and build four LMS for the Malaysian Navy. The building of the second LMS for Malaysia started in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, last October.
"Then we introduced him about some other products such as the MRSS (Multi Role Support Ship) and also the frigate, corvettes and patrol vessels, not only for the Malaysian Navy, also for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and also we introduced him about some torpedoes, underwater weapons and civilian equipment for the armed forces," said Ren.
"The prime minister is quite satisfied," he added.
Mahathir also took time to view a barrage anti-missile system, an area defense system combining a multiple rocket launch system with an integrated optical electronic tracking system offered by CSIC.
"There are many attractive things in the Chinese section of the exhibition," the Malaysian prime minister told a press conference. "Of course China has made great progress and we are looking at the Chinese products."
While it was the fourth time for CSOC to participate in LIMA, it is the first time for CETC to be at the Malaysia's resort island.
With the emphasis on integrated network information system, the company has brought telecommunication and surveillance equipment, among others, to the exhibition, according to CETC International vice president Zhang Peng.
"We want to showcase the technology capabilities of CETC," he said, while speaking highly of the service and organizing of the exhibition.
Among the items on display are models of Long Range Surveillance Radar and the Airborne Warning and Control System, both manufactured by CTEC.
A Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group's Wing Loong II drone was displayed outside the exhibition center, with which Mahathir took a picture.
First launched in 1991 by Mahathir during his first term, the biennial LIMA has grown into a major arms and technology expo.
The event will be held on March 26-30, with participation of 390 companies from 31 countries and regions.
