The medical staff of the Chinese navy hospital ship Peace Ark attended to 7,289 people free of charge during an eight-day call in East Timor, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese state-run news agency says that as well as treating patients on the ship, the medical staff formed four mobile parties which travelled to attend to patients in remote parts of East Timor.

The report says the medical staff also took part in rescue exercises with East Timorese soldiers.

The Peace Ark’s call in East Timor ended a humanitarian mission which began in July and took the ship to 7 other countries, including Angola and Mozambique, Xinhua says.