Russian-Chinese naval exercise proceeds successfully - Black Sea Fleet command

SEVASTOPOL, May 13. /TASS/. The first phase of the Russian-Chinese naval exercise Maritime Cooperation-2015 has been held "very successfully," the chief of the Black Sea Fleet’s staff, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Nosatov, has told the media. "The first phase of the exercise is over. The ships are getting ready for the second phase in the Mediterranean Sea. All plans have been agreed, everything proceeds according to the original schedule. I am certain that the second phase will be successful, too, and will be of importance to practicing joint operations," Nosatov said. The Black Sea Fleet is present in the Mediterranean on the permanent basis. "A special task force has been formed in the Mediterranean. It is addressing tasks on the permanent basis. There are enough forces and the number of ships is being built up," Admiral Nosatov said. The active phase of the Russia-China naval exercise Maritime Cooperation-2015 will be held in the Mediterranean on May 17 through 21. Taking part in it will be six ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, including the missile cruiser The Moskva, the patrol ship The Ladny, two amphibious assault ships The Aleksandr Otrakovsky and The Aleksandr Shabalin, a salvage tug, the missile carrying hovercraft The Samum and China’s frigates The Linyi and The Weifang. Read more