Naval forces of China and France conducted a joint military
exercise in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday.
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.
Chinese Navy vessels
participate in the first joint naval exercise with France,
code-named "China-France Friendship 2007", in the Mediterranean Sea
on September 25, 2007.
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.
On Tuesday 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.
Chinese and French officers observe the first joint naval
exercise between China and France, code-named "China-France
Friendship 2007", in the Mediterranean Sea on September 25,
2007.
A French naval helicopter closes in on a Chinese vessel to
rescue the "injured" soldiers during the first joint naval exercise
between China and France, code-named "China-France Friendship
2007", in the Mediterranean Sea on September 25, 2007.
A French naval helicopter touches down on the guided missile
destroyer during the first joint naval exercise between China and
France, code-named "China-France Friendship 2007", in the
Mediterranean Sea on September 25, 2007.
Chinese and French navies hold a farewell ceremony after the
first joint naval exercise between China and France, code-named
"China-France Friendship 2007", in the Mediterranean Sea on
September 25, 2007.
(China Daily September 26, 2007)
