Marta Fernández, director of the BRICS Policy Center/PUC-Rio, participated in the visit to the Chinese Navy’s hospital ship Ark Silk Road.

On January 10, 2026, Marta Fernández, director of the BRICS Policy Center/PUC-Rio, joined a visit to the Chinese Navy hospital ship Ark Silk Road, docked at Pier Mauá in Rio de Janeiro.

The visit provided an opportunity to learn about the humanitarian mission of this large medical vessel, which is part of the international Mission Harmony initiative, and reinforces the BRICS Policy Center’s interest in South-South cooperation in health and scientific diplomacy.

The Ark Silk Road is a large hospital ship, approximately 178 meters long, equipped with 300 nursing beds, 20 ICU beds, and facilities for various medical and surgical procedures, as well as a helicopter to support humanitarian operations.