Naval forces of China and France conducted a joint military exercise in
the Mediterranean Sea yesterday.
The "China-France Friendship 2007" drill in the Mediterranean Sea off the
southern French port city of Toulon was the first of its kind between the two
navies in the Mediterranean.
The five-phase exercise focused on joint search and rescue operations. It
aimed to improve cooperation between the two navies to improve their ability to
cope with unconventional security threats.
The exercise was conducted shortly after two Chinese naval vessels, the
guided missile destroyer Guangzhou and supply ship Weishanhu, wrapped up an
87-day European tour that took them to Russia, Britain, Spain and France.
Major General Su Zhiqian, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of
the Chinese Navy and commander of the two Chinese naval vessels, said after the
exercise that the goodwill visit and the military exercise had helped deepen the
military exchange and cooperation between the two countries, explored ways to
jointly respond to unconventional security threats and boosted their capability
to deal with a security crises.
Yesterday morning the two Chinese vessels sailed out of Toulon, the last
stop on a voyage of 23,000 nautical miles on which they also called at Russia's
St. Petersburg, Britain's Portsmouth, and Spain's Cadiz.
After the exercise, the two Chinese vessels were to return
home.