Indian and Chinese naval vessels conduct bilateral exercises

Navy ships of India and China Thursday conducted joint exercises off the Kochi coast Thursday in the first bilateral exercise in India.

Communication exercises between the two ships, manoeuvre procedures and exercises relating to casualty evacuation were held during the day-long exercises, naval sources in Kochi said.

In 2003, Indian naval vessels had taken part in joint exercises in China.

The two Chinese ships which participated in the exercises are Shenzhen, a Luhai class destroyer commanded by Captain Zhu Jianda and Weishanhu, captained by Chen Zailiang.

The Chinese vessels are equipped with surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and carries a Harbin Z9C helicopter onboard. Both ships together have a crew of 544 personnel.

The Indian vessels which participated in the exercises are INS Gomati and INS Sharda.

While a port in Thailand is the next port of call of the Chinese ships, Indian vessels will return to their base ports at Mumbai and Kochi.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Rajender Singh, chief of staff, Southern Naval Command, was present at the jetty to see off the ships.