China, Russia to hold joint naval drill

Beijing, April 18 (IANS) China and Russia will hold a joint naval exercise in the Yellow Sea this weekend, the Chinese defence ministry said.

Dozens of battle ships and submarines will participate in the exercise scheduled near the Japanese waters, China Daily reported Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Qian Lihua, director of the defence ministry's foreign affairs office, told reporters Tuesday that the exercise is being organised within the framework of military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.

Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.