(VOVworld) – Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the launch of a joint naval exercise in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Directors of the Chinese and Russian naval forces arrange the deployment of forces in Shanghai, east China, May 20, 2014. The week-long China-Russia.jpg

Jinping said this year’s exercise is part of the two navies’ military cooperation program to enhance mutual trust and strategic partnership between China and Russia. Putin underscored the importance of military ties in the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, calling for enhanced cooperation to tackle various threats and challenges to safeguard regional and world peace and stability.