(LI ZIHENG)

China's most sophisticated research vessel—Kexue, which means "science"—left for the West Pacific on April 8 from the port city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province, beginning its first ocean expedition.

Its research will focus on the currents in the Pacific, regional climates and deep-sea ecology.

A total of 46 scientists and technical staff are on board.

The staff will carry out marine geophysical surveys and biological sampling. The ship is expected to return in the second half of May.