VLADIVOSTOK. Aug 8 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian operations team planning the joint Russian-Chinese Exercise Peace Mission 2005 has arrived in Vladivostok on Monday.
"The team will head for the Chinese town of Quingdao on Tuesday to take part in organization procedures of the forthcoming maneuvers," Colonel Vyacheslav Sedov, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service chief, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
According to him, the team's main objective in China will be to establish interaction with Chinese counterparts on issues of meeting and accommodating Russian participants. "Russian military will facilitate in planning and organizing of joint training prior to the exercise," the spokesman said.
According to earlier reports, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov signed an ordinance to submit the suggestions as to the agreement on the status of Russian and Chinese forces temporarily stationed in the countries for exercises to the Russian President for consideration.
The exercise planned will be carried out in compliance with the memorandum signed between the defense ministries of the two countries on July 6, 2004 in framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The exercise will be held in Vladivostok, Russia and the Shandong peninsula, China and nearby coastal waters on August 18-25.
A total of about 10,000 troops are planned to take part in the maneuvers, including 1,800 Russian servicemen of the Airborne Forces, Navy, Air Force and Land Forces.