A squadron of Chinese warships has arrived at the Russian Far East sea port of Vladivostok for a four-day visit aimed at enhancing communication between the two navies.

The squadron, consisting of the destroyer "Tai Zhou" and the guided missile frigate "Ma Anshan," arrived at the port Tuesday and was welcomed by senior officials of the Pacific fleet of the Russian Navy.

"The present meeting between Russian and Chinese naval men pursues the main aim: to promote a further development of naval cooperation between the navies of our two countries," Itar-Tass cited a spokesman of the Russian Navy as saying.

After the welcoming ceremony, senior officials of the Chinese warships met Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Sergei Viktorovich Avramenko and Alexander Zubritskiy, vice mayor of Vladivostok.

During the visit, the two sides will also take part in a series of cultural and sports events, such as bus tours, basketball competitions, and a number of official functions and informal get-togethers of the seamen of the two countries, the Itar-Tass said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2008)