PLAN's taskforce leaves for Russia for "Maritime Joint Exercise 2013"

QINGDAO, July 2 (ChinaMil) -- A taskforce consisting of four destroyers, two frigates and a comprehensive supply ship under the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) left a naval port in east China's coastal city of Qingdao at around 10:00 a.m. of July 1, 2013 for Russia to participate in the China-Russia maritime joint exercise codenamed "Maritime Joint Exercise 2013".

Wu Shengli, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and commander of the PLAN, went to the pier to see off the taskforce and deliver a speech.

Wu Shengli said that holding the China-Russia maritime joint exercise is an important measure to consolidate and deepen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.

Wu added that this maritime joint exercise led by the Russian side is not only the continuation and deepening of the China-Russia maritime joint exercise held last year, but also marks the formation of the institutionalized and normalized mechanism for the China-Russia maritime joint exercise. It is of great strategic significance to further enhancing the strategic mutual trust and traditional friendship between China and Russia and between the two militaries, improving the capability to jointly address the maritime security threats and highlighting the firm determination to jointly safeguard world peace and regional stability.

Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Zhao Zongqi, commander of the Jinan Military Area Command (MAC) of the PLA, Du Hengyan, political commissar of the Jinan MAC of the PLA, and leaders from the Qingdao City Committee of the Communist of Party of China (CPC) and the Qingdao City People's Government went to the pier to see off the taskforce.

The taskforce of the Chinese side for this exercise consists of the Shenyang, Shijiazhuang, Wuhan and Lanzhou guided missile destroyers, the Yantai and Yancheng guided missile frigates as well as the "Hongze Lake" comprehensive supply ship. Among all of its oversea maritime joint exercises with foreign navies, this exercise is the one in which the PLAN sends the most of its troops to participate.

During the exercise, the Chinese navy and the Russian navy will hold exercise on many subjects including joint air defense, joint rescue of hijacked ships, sea-target strike and actual weaponry firing in the waters near the Peter the Great Gulf of Russia. Moreover, the two sides will also hold rich and colorful cultural exchange activities.

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