Russia, China launch navy drills in Mediterranean

An official ceremony in Novorossiisk has opened the Joint Sea 2015 naval drills in the Mediterranean, which will feature 10 combat ships from Russia and China, the press service of the Russian defence ministry said on Monday.

"An official opening ceremony took place this morning in Novorossiysk," TASS news agency quoted the press service as stating. "The joint drills are not aimed against third parties and are not connected with the political situation in that region. The Joint Sea will feature about 10 combat ships of various classes from Russia and China."

The ceremony featured Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov and Chinese Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Du Czinchen, representatives of the drills' joint headquarters, crews of Russian Chinese combay ships .

"In the afternoon, the Russian and Chinese parties will discuss planning documents, commanders will give tasks to the participants and will study tasks' episodes on the map," the Defence Ministry said.

At the opening of the drills, Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov and Vice-Admiral Du Czinchen said the Joint Sea 2015, active phase of which will be in the Mediterranean Sea, will favour further improvement of friendly and practical cooperation between the countries, improvement of joint countering of threats of sea security, the ministry said.