China, Russia end joint naval exercises

Chinese and Russian naval forces on Thursday ended their joint military exercises in the Mediterranean, according to an online news briefing from the Chinese Defense Ministry, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Military officials from both sides attended a closing ceremony in the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk, summarizing results of the 11-day naval drills launched on May 11.

"Naval forces of both countries made concerted efforts to explore new formats of joint exercises, and learn valuable experience from each other, which has made the drills a success," said Du Jingchen, deputy commander of the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China and the drill director of the Chinese side.

Alexander Fedotenkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, spoke highly of the professionalism of both navies, saying that as the drills were conducted far from naval bases of the two countries, they demonstrated that Russia and China are capable of dealing with new threats and challenges at sea and safeguarding the strategic stability in every waters of world ocean.

Fedotenkov reiterated that the joint drills were not aimed at any third party and carried out in an absolute peaceful manner.

The "Joint Sea-2015" drills, involving six Russian and three Chinese ships, were staged in four phases, focusing on maritime defense, replenishment and escorting. It was the fourth since joint China-Russia sea drills began in 2012.