China and Russia are set to hold the largest-ever joint naval drills later this week, which will include the "joint Sea-2013" drill in the East Sea/ Sea of Japan, officials said.
Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Fang Fenghui along with his Russian counterpart, Valery Gerasimov, announced the plans at a joint press conference, according to the Chinese State news paper, China Daily.
Fang Fenghui ,who is currently on a visit to Russia, is also a member of the Chinese Central Military Commission.
The two sides said that armed forces from both the countries will hold the "Joint Sea-2013" drill in Peter the Great Bay, East Sea/ Sea of Japan from July 5 to July 12, which will be followed by a joint anti-terrorism military drill in Russia's Chelyabinsk from July 27 to August 15.
Amid rising territory disputes in the China Sea in recent months, the two sides said that the joint military drill in the East Sea/ Sea of Japan, which borders Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea, is not aimed at targeting any third party.
Officials from the two sides said the joint military drill was meant to "strengthen cooperation between the two armed forces in military training, enhance their capability in coordinating military operations."
"So that they can play a positive role in safeguarding regional security and stability," reported the Chinese state newspaper.
After meeting the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Chinese official hailed the meeting as a "good momentum" to the relationship between the two armed forces.
Beijing is keen to enhance high-level mutual visits and cooperation between the two forces, according to the newspaper.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said "Sea of Japan" and has been changed to "East Sea/Sea of Japan."
