Islamabad, July 30 - The first of four Chinese F-22P frigates constructed for the Pakistan Navy was formally handed over Thursday at a ceremony at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.

The delivery ceremony was followed by the commissioning of the ship, during which the Pakistani flag was hoisted on the ship with a band playing the Pakistani national anthem, APP news agency reported.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from the Chinese Navy, the Chinese government and senior officers of the Pakistan Navy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Noman Bashir said with the passage of time, the relationship between Pakistan and China has grown deeper in all spheres of defence and economic cooperation.

'Pakistan is indeed proud of its close association with China and this unique relationship does not draw any parallel elsewhere in the world,' he added.