Russian-Chinese navy partnership highly effective - Russian deputy commander

ZHANJIANG (China), September 12. /TASS/. Developing Russian-Chinese cooperation is highly effective, Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, said on Monday. "By underscoring the importance of developing Russian-Chinese cooperation, navy partnership, it can be described as highly effective. This is due to the aim of our partnership expressed in the striving to ensure the security of peaceful activities in seas and oceans, prevention of dangerous challenges," Fedotenkov said at the ceremony of meeting ships at Russian-Chinese naval drills "Sea Cooperation-2016." "I am confident that our brave ships and crews will achieve new results at the ‘Sea Cooperation-2016’ drills. Russian and Chinese military sailors have another great opportunity to show their professionalism, navy training, and exchange experiences," he added. "On behalf of Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev, on behalf of all Russian sailors, I want to thank Chinese friends for the warm welcome and wish sailors success in holding the joint Russian-Chinese drills," Fedotenkov noted. When entering the foreign port, the military sailors of the two countries exchanged "salutes of nations" (21 shots from each side). Eighteen ships and support vessels, 21 aircraft, over 250 marines and 15 units of military equipment are involved in the drills. The Russian group includes Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs Udaloy-class destroyers, Peresvet battleship, Alatau rescue boat and Pechenga sea tanker. The active phase of "Sea Cooperation" drills will be held on September 15-19. The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier that the marines of the two countries will practice in defending ships, saving and liberating ships. Chinese Deputy Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Wang Hai, and Russian Deputy Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, will jointly command the military drills. The first "Sea Cooperation" drills were held on April 22-27, 2012 in the Yellow Sea near the city of Qingdao in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong province. Twenty-five ships and submarines, 13 planes, nine helicopters and two special forces units took part in the drills. Read more