China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was delivered to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and put in service on Tuesday, said Cheng Dewei, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Wednesday. 

China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong. (Photo: CCTV)

Cheng said that the type 002 class vessel was named after China's eastern province of Shandong according to the navy's rules for naming ships, and after taking consideration of the willingness of provinces and municipalities.

Speaking of the technical performance of the Shandong compared with the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, Cheng said this new aircraft carrier was wholly designed and built by China, focusing on several problems including the overall design of aircraft carrier, construction of the hull, thus improving the effectiveness of comprehensive operational and comprehensive security level.

The commissioning ceremony of the Shandong was held on Tuesday at a naval port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony and boarded the aircraft carrier.

Approved by the CMC, the Shandong was given the hull number 17.