"After the solemn welcoming ceremony for the ships, the leaders of the drills addressed those present, after which a little tour of the ships was conducted. The official opening of the international Russian-Chinese exercise Naval Interaction-2017 will be held on Saturday in Baltiysk," Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov told Sputnik.
Martov noted that the Chinese navy is represented by the naval guided-missile destroyer Hefei, Yuncheng frigate and the supply vessel Lomahu, while Steregushchiy and Boikiy corvettes, rescue tug and aviation will be used by the Russian side.
The drills are aimed at simulating the interaction between the Russian and Chinese fleets in countering naval threats, coherence of actions of the crew and enhancing cooperation between the Russian and Chinese naval troops, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The active phase of the joint military exercises will take place on July 24-27 in the Baltic Sea.
