MK sports 2023. The drills involve sea and air escorts, and repulsion of trespassing vessels from areas closed for navigation. Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2023/2023-07-17/5b511b92-f876-4aba-b734-e7982ec281b4.jpeg" />

Vessels of the Russian and the Chinese navies take part in the joint naval and air drills North/Interaction-2023 in the Sea of Japan on July 21, 2023. Photo: VCG

China and Russia will hold a joint naval and air exercise in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk this month, as the two countries continue to conduct a series of joint drills and patrols in moves to deepen pragmatic military cooperation that contributes to peace and stability, analysts said on Monday.

Based on an annual plan and the consensus reached by the two countries, the Russian military will send naval and air forces to participate in the Northern/Interaction-2024 exercise organized by China in sea and air spaces in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in September, China's Ministry of National Defense said in a press release on Monday.

The exercise aims to deepen the strategic coordination between the two militaries, and enhance capabilities in dealing with security threats, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

China has organized several editions of the Interaction series of exercises with Russia, including the Western/Interaction-2021 held in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region featuring ground and air forces and the Northern/Interaction-2023 held in the Sea of Japan featuring naval and air forces.

In addition, a China-Russia naval flotilla will hold the fifth maritime joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean, while China will participate in Russia's Ocean-2024 strategic exercise,  Chinese Defense Ministry said.

China routinely organizes the Interaction series of exercises with Russia and joins strategic exercises organized by Russia, while the two countries also routinely hold joint naval and air patrols. It highlights China and Russia's close military ties, and the two militaries' efforts to further deepen pragmatic cooperation, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times.

The military cooperation between China and Russia is at a strategic level in terms of not only the two countries, but also to the region and the world, the expert said, noting the strong capabilities of their militaries can serve as a deterrence to any force that dares to sabotage peace and stability.