BEIJING
China and Russia will conduct joint military exercises in the East China Sea between May 20 and 26, said Chinese Navy Spokesman Liang Yang on Tuesday.
In a press briefing in Beijing, Yang said, “The 'Joint Sea-2014' drills to be held by the Chinese and Russian navies will mainly concentrate on improving skills in defence, tackling assaults, search and rescue operations and hostage recovery.”
Fourteen ships, two submarines, nine jets and helicopters and both navies' special forces will participate in the drills.
“The aim of the exercise is to deepen bilateral political and military cooperation between China and Russia,” Yang said adding that the exercise is aimed at enhancing joint combat against maritime threats and there is no intention to target any third party in the exercise.
These joint naval exercises between China and Russia show how stronger ties between both countries have developed since the beginning of the era of President Xi Jinping in China, who paid his first foreign visit to Russia after taking oath in his office in March 2013. The Chinese President also had subsequent meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit in 2013 and at the Sochi Winter Olympics at the beginning of 2014.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
