INS Ranvir and INS Mumbai on China Cover

Date of Issue: April 23, 2009

Cover Design and Cancellation: Ma Xiaoling, Du Xiaoxiao and Shan Huanfa
Photographer: Zha Chumming
Quantity Issued: 30,000

This commemorative special cover was issued by China during the 60th Anniversary of the Chinese PLA  (People's Liberation Army) Navy.

The celebrations and great maritime parade were held off the coast of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. It was the first time the PLA Navy has ever held a parade of this kind.

To celebrate the occasion, naval delegations from 29 countries and 21 naval ships from 14 countries were invited to Qingdao from April 20 to 23, 2009, and participated in the ceremonial event with a theme of "peace, harmony, and cooperation." China National Philatelic Corporation specially issued a set of 31 commemorative covers for this occasion.

The naval delegation from India was headed by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, then Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy with INS Ranvir and INS Mumbai.

INS Ranvir (D54) - fourth of the five Rajput (Kashin II) class destroyers built for the Indian Navy. Ranvir was commissioned on 28 October 1986.

INS Mumbai (D62) - third of the Delhi-class guided-missile destroyers in active-service with the Indian Navy. Mumbai was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in her namesake city Mumbai, launched in 1995, and commissioned in 2001.

Source: Info on back of cover, cctv.com, and wikipedia