Russia and China will conduct two joint military drills, with the first lasting a week set for this week, the two countries' military heads said in Moscow. The Naval Interaction 2013 will be held in the Sea of Japan July 5-12, while the other, code named Peace Mission 2013, will take place in Russia's Urals region July 27 to Aug. 15, RIA Novosti reported. The dates were jointly announced by visiting Gen. Fang Fenghui, chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and his host, Russian Army Gen. Valery Gerasimov. The joint drills are not targeting any third party, China's official Xinhua News Agency quoted Fang as saying. He said they are meant to strengthen cooperation between the two armed forces in military training and enhance their capability in coordinating military operations for safeguarding regional security and stability. Fang, in a separate meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, also praised the momentum of relationship between the two armed forces and their fruitful cooperation, the report was cited as saying by the United Press International (UPI). Russia and China have held joint military exercises since 2005 under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The other members of the organization are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
