ANKARA

China and Russia forces will hold joint military exercises next month, the Chinese defense ministry announced on Wednesday.

The two countries' navies will conduct the Sea-2025 joint exercise in the waters and airspace near Vladivostok, Russia, in August, said Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, during a press conference.

"Following the exercise, some participating forces from both sides will proceed to relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean to carry out the sixth joint maritime patrol," state-run Global Times quoted Zhang as saying.

Zhang added that the upcoming exercises, which are part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, are not directed at any third party, and are unrelated to current international and regional situations.

In July last year, the two countries' militaries also held joint exercises in the waters and airspace adjacent to Zhanjiang, located in south China's Guangdong Province.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid