September.08 (China Military News cited from Chinamil.com.cn) -- At 10:00 on the morning of September 6, at the invitation of the third Chinese naval escort taskforce, 8 Russian military officers headed by Rear Admiral Sergei Aliokminski, commander of the Russian naval escort taskforce and the 1st deputy commander of the Northeast Armed Force Group of the Russian Armed Forces, boarded the Chinese missile frigate “Zhoushan” where they were warmly received by Rear Admiral Wang Zhiguo, commander of the third Chinese naval escort taskforce and deputy commander of the East China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, and other members of the commanding post of the Chinese escort taskforce.

Rear Admiral Sergei Aliokminski, commander of the Russian naval escort taskforce boarded the Chinese missile frigate “Zhoushan”

In the meeting held on the Zhoushan warship, the two sides informed each other of the troop structure, escort mode and route of their escort taskforces.

China and Russia are friendly neighbors and the Chinese side is willing to strengthen exchange and co-operation between the escort taskforces of the two sides on the basis of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and consultation, said Wang Zhiguo.

Aliokminski expressed his respect and appreciation to the PLA Navy for sending its warships to the Gulf of Aden to escort merchant ships and maintain the security of the local sea areas.

Russia-China friendly ties have a long history and the Russian naval escort taskforce is willing to strengthen exchange and co-operation with the Chinese side on the basis of equality and mutual benefit in a bid to maintain the peace and security in the Gulf of Aden and the sea area off Somali coast, said Alekminskiy.

Helicopter from Russian Warship, Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs

The two sides also had an exchange of the characteristics of the pirate activities off Somali coast and anti-piracy tactics in the process of fulfilling escort missions, and exchanged views on the escort cooperation between the two taskforces.

Destroyer Admiral Tributs on horizon seen from Chinese Frigate FF-539 "Zhoushan"

Sergei Aliokminski invited Wang Zhiguo to pay a return visit to warships of the Russian naval escort taskforce at Wang’s convenience and his invitation was gladly accepted.

Rear Admiral Sergei Aliokminski and  Rear Admiral Wang Zhiguo (left)

After the meeting, Sergei Aliokminski and his party were showed around the “Zhoushan” warship.