China, Russia to conduct joint naval exercise

Officers and soldiers wave goodbye to Russian fleet during a joint China-Russia naval drill off South China's Guangdong province, Sept 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and Russia will hold the Joint Sea 2019 naval exercise in waters near China's coastal city Qingdao from April 29 to May 4, a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The exercise will focus on "joint defensive activities at sea", involving 13 ships, two submarines, seven fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters from both sides. Eighty members from the two nations' marine corps will take part in the exercise, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang said at a news conference.

It is expected to consolidate and further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia, deepen the two militaries' friendship and cooperation, and also improve the two navies' capabilities to jointly deal with security threats from the sea. The exercise is not aimed at any third party, he said.