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Between April 22 and 27, China and Russia conducted joint navalexercises in the waters of the Yellow Sea off China's east coastfor the first time, signifying the growing cooperation under theChina-Russia strategic partnership. The six-day joint drill involved 16 surface vessels and twosubmarines from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy andfour warships as well as three supply ships from the RussianPacific Fleet. The Russian Pacific Fleet's flagship Varyag , a Slava-class heavy missile cruiser participated in the exercise,along with Shenyang , the most advanced missile destroyer in the PLA Navy. The mainforces from both navies participating in the drill reflected itsgreat importance. General Qian Lihua, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office with theNational Defense Ministry, said the exercise focused on the defenseof air routes and maritime traffic routes, search and rescueoperations and anti-submarine tactics, as well as joint rescues ofhijacked vessels. "Joint military exercises have grown to be a regular form ofcooperation between China and Russia in recent years. The 2012joint naval drill is a routine arrangement within the framework ofbilateral military cooperation," Qian said. "And the drill is nottargeted at any third party." Ground breaking Though China and Russia have conducted four bilateral andmultilateral military exercises since 2005, all of them werecarried out within the framework of the Shanghai CooperationOrganization, a grouping for regional peace that includes China,Russia and four Central Asian states. The latest naval drill was abreakthrough for China and Russia to hold a large combat exercisein the bilateral framework, fulfilling the commitment tostrengthening their strategic partnership. The joint naval exercise also has some obvious distinctions bycontrast with past events. First of all, it is the largest jointexercise conducted by the two nations, with a total of 25 vessels,22 aircraft and nearly 10,000 soldiers. The unprecedented marinearray was co-led by Ding Yiping, Deputy Commander of the PLA Navy,and Rear Admiral Leonid Sukhanov, Russian naval deputy chief ofstaff. PLA Chief of General Staff, General Chen Bingde, said the jointnaval exercise aims to counter new challenges and threats togetherwith Russia and secure the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacificregion, showing the resolution of China and Russia to rebalance thepower structure in the region. This is the first time that theChinese military has expressed such a purpose for a joint drill.The Chinese Navy previously held joint drills with other countriesonly for the subject of unconventional security or fightingterrorism. "After consultations with our partner, Russia, the joint drill setsfour objectives as follows," said Ding. "We expect to solidify thestrategic partnership between the two parties, deepen the practicalcooperation between the two militaries, improve the capability ofcarrying out joint military actions, and strengthen the confidenceof securing the peace and stability in related regions through thejoint naval drill." Chen Guangwen, an independent military expert, said, "Theparticipation of Russia's flag warship Varyag and other heavy destroyers means the joint anti-submarine missionis the most important task for the naval exercise.". We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Compressed Air Blow Guns Manufacturer , China Pneumatic Solenoid Valves for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Pulse Jet Valves.
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