Russian, Chinese sailors to have joint exercises in Mediterranean - Defense Ministry
19 January 2014, 05:22
The Russian Ministry of Defence reports that Russian and Chinese sailors taking part in the international operation of providing safe transportation for Syrian chemical weapons may carry out joint tactical exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reports on Sunday that a group of commanders of the Russian Navy permanent contingent in the Mediterranean Sea who are stationed aboard the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky has visited the Chinese patrol ship Yang Chen.
According to the report, aboard the Chinese patrol ship the Russian sailors and their Chinese colleagues discussed the prospects of joint tactical exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. They agreed that such exercises can be carried out in the near future to raise the level of operative compatibility between Russian and Chinese ships during joint operations in the eastern Mediterranean.
The main elements of the exercises will be training operational teamwork, combatting the current terrorist threat and carrying out joint rescue operations at sea, the Ministry of Defence specifies.
Russian, Chinese ships escort first shipload of Syrian chemical weapons in Mediterranean
The Russian and Chinese Navies have established close cooperation to ensure safe passage during the maritime phase of the transportation of Syrian chemical weapons in the Mediterranean Sea. The Russian missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky assisted by the Chinese frigate Yancheng fulfilled the responsible mission of escorting the first batch of Syrian chemical weapons transported by the Dutch cargo ship Ark Futura, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Russian and Chinese ships maintained close contact during the escort.
'The first joint military operation by a Russian and Chinese warships was a success,' the ministry said.
Under the initial plan, the most toxic chemicals were to be removed from Syria by December 31, 2013. But the ongoing instability in Syria made the deadline impossible to meet.
Voice of Russia, RIA
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