Russia and China will conduct joint naval exercise

This is reported by Reuters.

Russia said that four ships, including the Varyag missile cruiser, will take part in the exercise. There will be six ships on the Chinese side, as well as planes and helicopters from both countries.

"The main goal is to strengthen naval relations between the Russian Federation and China, support peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

Russian ships left the port of Vladivostok on Monday.

Joint naval exercises have been held annually since 2012. This year they will include artillery fire in the East China Sea.

The executive director of the Ilko Kucheriv Foundation Democratic Initiatives Petro Burkovsky noted that China is taking advantage of Russia's weakening and isolation from the West.