Two Chinese naval warships and one Australian warship held a joint maritime drill on October 14 off the coast of Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong province.

In the first days' drills, the two navies successfully conducted fleet formation changes, shipboard helicopter landing, communications and search-and-rescue exercises.

The drills involved China's guided missile destroyer "Harbin," fuel tanker "Hongze Lake," Australian frigate Anazc as well as twoshipboard helicopters from both sides.

The exercises, jointly directed by Zhang Xuezeng, vice chief of the staff of the North China Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and Rowan Moffitt, chief of staff of Australian maritime headquarters, lasted for approximately five hours and involved more than 400 crewmen.

Zhang said the joint drill would help boost relations between the two countries and their armed forces, relations between the two navies in particular, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

The Australian vessel, with a crew of 191, arrived in the port city Sunday for a five-day visit.

In recent years, the Chinese army has been stepping up its efforts to participate in international and regional cooperation in nontraditional fields. The country has been engaging in the new security concept characterized by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.

The Chinese navy would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with navies of other countries, and strive to safeguard peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region and the world, according to sources with North China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy.

Source: Xinhua