China begins deep-sea research in northwestern Pacific Ocean

Research team members wave farewell on the Xiangyanghong 09, the mother ship of China's manned submersible Jiaolong, at a port in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 16, 2017. Jiaolong returned to Shenzhen Saturday after the second stage of China's 38th ocean scientific expedition. The 38th oceanic scientific expedition started on Feb. 6. Jiaolong completed a dive in the northwestern Indian Ocean earlier this year in the mission's first stage. It will also conduct surveys in the Yap Trench and the Mariana Trench in the third stage. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)