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Russia’s missile cruiser and China’s patrol ship to have drills in Mediterranean Sea

The Pyotr Veliky and the Yan Cheng were convoying Denmark’s Ark Futura ship with the first batch of Syrian chemical weapons onboard

© ITAR-TASS/Lev Fedoseyev

MOSCOW, January 19, 5:04 /ITAR-TASS/. Crews of Russia’s heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky and China’s patrol ship Yan Cheng plan to hold tactical exercise in the Mediterranean Sea soon, the press service of the Russian Defence Ministry told Itar-Tass.

“The command of Russia’s Navy permanent force in the Mediterranean Sea, basing onboard the Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser, has recently visited the Chinese patrol ship Yan Cheng,” the press service said. “Onboard the Chinese warship Russian naval sailors discussed with their foreign partners joint tactical exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the agreement they can hold this naval exercise soon,” the press service reported.

Forthcoming military exercise is aimed at higher level of interoperability between Russian and Chinese warships at joint naval exercise in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. At tactical exercise Russian and Chinese naval sailors will drill interoperability, counteraction to terrorist threats as well as joint rescue operations.

The Pyotr Veliky and the Yan Cheng were convoying Denmark’s Ark Futura ship with the first batch of Syrian chemical weapons onboard. Constant radio contact was being maintained with the Chinese warship during the convoy mission. For the first time in world history Russian and Chinese warships interacted practically in the maritime operation.

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