Moscow, July 2 (IANS) China and Russia will hold two joint military drills in the coming two months, military officials from both countries said.
Fang Fenghui, chief of the General Staff of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov, ratified relevant documents and announced the decision at a joint press conference Monday, Xinhua reported.
Fang, who is also a member of the Central Military Commission, is on an official visit to Russia.
The two officials said Chinese and Russian armed forces will hold the “Joint Sea-2013” drill in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan from July 5 to 12.
The China-Russia joint anti-terrorism military drill code-named “Peace Mission-2013” will take place in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region from July 27 to Aug 15.
The joint drills will not target any third party, and are meant to strengthen cooperation between the two armed forces in military training, enhance their capability in coordinating military operations, so that they can play a positive role in safeguarding regional security and stability, Fang said.
Meanwhile, a Chinese fleet consisting of seven naval vessels departed from east China’s harbour city of Qingdao Monday to participate in the joint drills scheduled for July 5 to 12.
The fleet consists of four destroyers, two escort vessels and a supply ship.
The Chinese fleet will be anchored in Vladivostok during the drill.
A total of 18 vessels, one submarine, three fixed-wing planes, five carrier-based helicopters and two teams of special forces from the two countries will participate in the exercise.
The eight-day drill will focus on joint maritime air defence, joint escorts and marine search and rescue operations.
The two navies conducted a six-day naval drill in the Yellow Sea in 2012.
