ISTANBUL

Russia said on Thursday that a group of its warships arrived in the Chinese port city of Qingdao, eastern Shandong province.

A statement by the Defense Ministry said the four-day visit of the group, which consists of three new corvettes and a support vessel, will include talks with representatives of the military command of the Chinese naval base in the city.

“A number of cultural events will be organized for the crews of the Russian detachment,” the statement added.

The ministry said the visit will serve as “another practical step in strengthening cooperation between the navies of the two countries.”