Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

Chinese and Russian naval forces kicked off the second phase of their joint military exercise codenamed "Northern/Interaction-2024" at a military port in Russia on Saturday.

The two sides will jointly complete multiple subjects in the coming days, including naval and air escort, alert defense, and firepower strikes.

At the opening ceremony, the national anthems of both countries were played, and then Chinese and Russian commanders respectively delivered speeches.

The two sides agreed that China and Russia are important forces for safeguarding world peace and development, promoting regional prosperity and stability, and advancing international fairness and justice, and that the exercise will deepen the level of strategic coordination between the two militaries and enhance their ability to jointly respond to security threats.

After the ceremony, the Chinese and Russian participating warships left the dock and maneuvered to the exercise areas.

The second phase of the exercise will be carried out in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, during which the two forces will conduct red-blue confrontation drills focusing on joint air defense, ship-aircraft anti-submarine coordination, naval operations in formations, and other subjects involving the actual use of weapons.

"The 'Northern/Interaction-2024' drills are a major exercise project determined according to an annual schedule and mutual consensus between China and Russia. Over the past few days, we have summarized and exchanged experience with the Russian side on the first phase of the exercise, and conducted comprehensive consultations on the details of forces coordination and the actual use of weapons for the second phase, laying a solid foundation for the following force maneuver," said Li Mingxu, a Chinese participating officer.

The first phase of the exercise ran from Sept. 11 to 15, during which the naval and air forces from both sides completed multi-subject tasks in the waters and airspace of the Sea of Japan to test the tactical command coordination and joint operation capabilities of the two sides.

Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

Chinese, Russian naval forces kick off second phase of joint military exercise

With China assuming the rotating presidency on Friday, the United Nations Security Council will focus its work in May on revitalizing the authority of the UN Charter and the role of the United Nations, while advancing the political settlement of the Middle East issue, and promoting the stability and development of African countries.

Briefing reporters on the Security Council's priorities for May, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Security Council for May, made the statement on Friday.

In recent years, the world has been witnessing growing turbulence in the international landscape, with conflicts increasing, divisions widening, and the multilateral system, along with international law, under considerable strain, he said, urging the international community to take urgent actions to uphold the authority of the UN Charter and strengthen the role of the United Nations to prevent the world from "relapsing into the jungle" and "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war".

In this context, Fu said, the Security Council will convene a high-level open debate in May under the theme of upholding the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system.

Security Council to focus on UN's role, Middle East, Africa in May: Chinese envoy