Russia and China have completed joint naval drills in the Pacific Ocean, the Interfax news agency reported yesterday.

The naval drills, which lasted more than three weeks, included at least 50 rescue and air strike drills, the agency reported, citing the Russian Pacific Fleet.

The agency adds that the Russian ships are now sailing through the East China Sea en route to the Chinese port of Qingdao.

Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their military ties over the past decade. Their cooperation has not diminished since the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman, Wu Qian, said on Monday that the two countries recently held exercises in the western and northern waters of the Pacific Ocean.

This operation is not aimed at any third party and has nothing to do with the current situation at international and regional levels, he had underlined.

Chinese Defence Minister, Li Sangfu, was in Russia this week to attend the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security, which was organized by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Russia and China have been holding numerous joint military drills for years.

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