Egypt, China Hold Naval Drills in Mediterranean Sea

Egyptian and Chinese Naval forces carried out on Wednesday joint maritime training drills in the Mediterranean Sea.

A number of naval units, including the Chinese missile destroyer "Xi'an" participated in the exercise.

The drills come as part the Armed Forces General Command's plan to boost military cooperation with all friendly and brotherly countries.

The drill included maritime activities such as how to apply sailing formations, counter hostile targets and repel non-traditional threats, as well as carrying out inspection of vessels.

Egypt regularly holds military exercises with Arab, African and Western countries to boost military collaboration and exchange expertise.

The drill also aims to support cooperation between the Egyptian and Chinese naval forces, provide knowledge on the latest naval combat techniques and hone skills of the participating forces.

During the joint exercise, Chinese ship Xi'an and Egyptian ship Arafat conducted drills such as formation alternation, flashing light signaling, helicopter decklanding, special operations soldiers fast-roping, temporary inspection, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations, as well as replenishment-at-sea.

Throughout the process, both ships took their turn to serve as the commanding ship and the two navies cross-dispatched observers. According to a commander officer of the 32nd escort taskforce, this exercise further improved the coordination ability between the Chinese naval ship and its Egyptian counterpart and deepened mutual trust and cooperation between the two navies.