In brief
The *Auspicious Ark* arrived in Lomé on Sunday for a friendly visit and medical services under Mission Harmony‑2026. The ship will treat local patients and its medical team will visit a Togolese military hospital for academic exchanges, while also hosting a deck reception and basketball match with Togolese troops. The visit marks the first by a Chinese naval hospital ship to Togo, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
Xinhua reported that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy hospital ship Auspicious Ark arrived in Lomé, the capital of Togo, on Sunday, November 2, 2026, to begin a friendly visit and provide medical services under Mission Harmony‑2026.
During the stay, the ship will offer medical treatment to local patients aboard the vessel, while a Chinese medical team will tour a Togolese military hospital for academic exchanges, according to the Chinese state news agency.
The mission will also organize a deck reception and a friendly basketball match between the crew of the Auspicious Ark and Togolese military personnel, aiming to strengthen exchanges and friendship, Xinhua said.
Since diplomatic relations were first established in 1972, China and Togo have maintained sound bilateral ties. In September 2024, the two countries raised their partnership to a comprehensive strategic level, and in October 2026 the heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China‑Togo community with a shared future for the new era, as reported by Xinhua.
