The second-phase of the Sino-Russian joint military exercise ended Monday afternoon, to be followed by combat maneuver starting from Tuesday, said a Chinese general in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province on August 22.

Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, made the announcement in east China's Qingdao city.

According to previous report, the upcoming 3-day third-phase exercise will cover three military courses, including offshore blockade, amphibious landing and forcible separation.

The "Peace Mission 2005" joint military exercise, an unprecedented event involving 10,000 servicemen from China and Russia, was launched in the Russian port city of Vladivostok on August 18 and moved to the Chinese soil the day after.

On Monday morning, a group of 20 Chinese journalists visited a large anti-submarine warship, "Marshal Shaposhnikov", of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which has anchored at Qingdao to participate in the current Sino-Russian joint military maneuver.

Built in 1986, "Marshal Shaposhnikov" boasts first-class capabilities of attacking submarine and fighting air target in short range, according to officers of the Russian warship.

The Chinese reporters learned that the Russian officers and sailors are in high spirit and they are satisfied with logistic supplies by the Chinese side.

These days, these Russian seamen have enjoyed vegetables, fruits, mushroom and soft drinks, but they are strictly banned to have any alcoholic drinks. Meanwhile, the Chinese side has organized football and basketball games as well as get-together between the Chinese and Russian troops.

The reporters were told that a well-prepared translation and coordination mechanism has ensured smooth communications between two sides.

Source: Xinhua