BEIJING, July 5 (Reuters) - The Chinese and Russian navies will hold joint exercises in the waters and airspace off the Chinese city of Qingdao next week, China's defence ministry and Russian state media said on Sunday.
"Following the exercises, some of the forces from both sides will proceed to relevant areas of the Pacific Ocean to carry out joint maritime patrols," it said in a statement.
The drills are an annual occurrence, "aimed at jointly addressing security challenges and maintaining regional peace and stability", it said.
Russian state-run RIA news agency said a cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine and a rescue vessel from Russia's Pacific Fleet had arrived in Qingdao to participate in the drills, which would run from July 6 to 13.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by William Mallard and Joe Bavier)
