RF-PRC Peace Mission-'09 joint exercises begin Wed.

KHABAROVSK, July 22 (Itar-Tass) - The first phase of Russo-Chinese
joint anti-terrorist exercises Peace Mission-2009 has begun in Russia's
Khabarovsk Territory on Wednesday.

Military and political consultations were held here earlier in the day
by the Chiefs of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation(RF) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) -- General of the
Army Nikolai Makarov and Colonel-General Chen Bingde, respectively.
In accordance with the plan for the RF-PRC exercises Peace
Mission-2009, Generals Nikolai Makarov and Chen Bingde signed a joint
operations directive about the conduct of an anti-terrorist operation. The
Directive was handed over to the supervisors of the exercises on both
sides -- Lieutenant-General Alexander Studenikin and Colonel-General Ma
Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation
Army of China. Immediately after the Russo-Chinese exercises were
officially declared open.
The second-ever Russo-Chinese joint Peace Mission exercises are held
in three phases. The second and third phases are to be held in
north-eastern China, at the Taonan military range near the city of
Baicheng from July 23 to 26.
On both sides, the exercises will involve about 3,000 servicemen, over
300 ground military vehicles and more than 40 aircraft and helicopters.
The first Peace Mission exervices were held on the territories of the
two countries in 2005.

.Two patrol ships to be built for Vietnam in Vladivostok.

VLADIVOSTOK, July 22 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremony marking the laying of
keels of two patrol ships for the Vietnamese Navy is to be held at the
Vostochnaya Verf (eastern shipyard) here on Wednesday.
An official at the press centre of the Primorsky Territory
administration has told Itar-Tass that the big order placed with the
shipyard within the scope of military-technical cooperation with the
Republic of Vietnam will held ensure the operation of the enterprise for
several years ahead.
The Vladivostok-based shipbuilding plant began to operate in 1952. It
was established for the construction of ships for Russia's Pacific Fleet
and the border-guarding forces of the Far Eastern region.
The enterprise has since built over 400 ships for the Navy, border
forces and fishery organisations. In 1994, the shipbuilding plant was
transformed into a public joint-stock company, the Vostochnaya Verf.
The shipyard has gained wide experience in building craft for export.
More than 30 artillery, torpedo, and missile boats have been supplied to
Vietnam, Cuba, China, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Guinea, and Iraq.

.Putin to hold conf on banking system, anti-crisis moves.

MOSCOW, July 22 (Itar-Tass) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to hold
a conference here on Wednesday to examine the state of the banking system
of this country and its participation in implementing the
government-elaborated package of anti-crisis measures.
An item concerning the state of affairs in the banking sector and the
lending of credtits to the real sector of the economy will be on the
agenda.
Alexei Kudrin, Vice-Premier and Minister of Finance, Sergei Ignatyev,
Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, officials of
economic-segment agencies, and executives of major domestic banks will
participate in the conference that will take place in the building of
Sverbank's (savings-bank) Board. In view of that, Putin will tour the head
office of Russia's leading credit-lending institution.

.UNESCO chief to attend HLG meeting in Moscow Wed.

MOSCOW, July 22 (Itar-Tass) - Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) will attend the first meeting of the High-Level Group (HLG) on
interreligious dialogue here on Wednesday.
The meeting, which will take place in Danilov Monastery, will be
co-chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and by the
leaders of other religious confessions.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev received HLG members on Tuesday. He
emphasized, "Russia has gained unique experience in the conduct of
interreligious dialogue, the experience that has been accumulating for
centuries".
"I consider it right to discuss that experience and the now existing
difficulties at a global lavel, including discussions with the use of
UNESCIO resources," the President pointed out.
Matsuura, for his part, emphasized that he is looking forward to the
first meeting of the HLG. This is a very important initiative," he added.
In the opinion of Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei
Nesterenko, "The format of the HLG will make it possible to substantively
exchange opinions about such matters of current importance as conflicts on
a religious basis, and the preservation of religious shrines".
On Wednesday afternoon, Koichiro Matsuura will deliver a lecture in
the Russian Foreign Ministry mansion under the Golden Lectures of the
World project, and is to meet with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.
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