China and Russia will hold a joint maritime drill from April 22 to 27. The Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Chen Bingde and his Russian counterpart Nikolai Makarov, approved the drill's program during a telephone conversation.

Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. [File photo]

The manoeuvre will take place in the Yellow Sea near China's eastern coastal resort city of Qingdao. According to China's Defense Ministry, the drill will focus on joint maritime defense and protection of navigation.

It will involve 16 vessels including destroyers, frigates, support and medical ships, and two submarines. Meanwhile, four warships from Russia's Pacific Fleet, as well as support vessels, warplanes, helicopters and naval infantry, left Vladivostok on Sunday for the exercise.

Since 2005, China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.