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Chinese and Russian sailors discuss details of upcoming naval exercises

The sides discussed the format and concrete episodes of the forthcoming joint naval exercises and also in what areas the maneuvers were to be held

MOSCOW, January 23, 21:13 /ITAR-TASS/. A delegation of commanders of the Chinese escort vessel Yancheng has visited the Pyotr Velikiy heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser, which is heading the Russian naval task force in the Mediterranean, a Russian Navy spokesperson told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

He said that joint tactical naval exercises in eastern Mediterranean, in which the Pyotr Velikiy and the Yancheng, would take part, were the main item on the agenda. The sides discussed the format and concrete episodes of the forthcoming joint naval exercises and also in what areas the maneuvers were to be held.

The naval exercises are aimed at improving the level of interoperability of Russian and Chinese warships during joint actions in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. Both ships are planning to drill the elements of operational interaction and counter-resistance to modern terrorist threats as well as gunnery exercises, anti-air defense and joint rescue operations.

“That was a return visit by the Chinese delegation. A group of commanders from the Pyotr Velikiy had visited the Chinese escort ship a week before to reach preliminary agreements for holding joint naval exercises,” the Navy spokesperson said.

Russian and Chinese warships carried out their first naval operation in the Mediterranean on January 7: the Pyotr Velikiy nuclear-powered missile cruiser of the Russian northern fleet jointly with Yancheng frigate accompanied the Danish special ship Ark Futura which was carrying the first shipment of Syrian chemical weapons onboard.