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The Russian and Chinese navies conduct joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean.

This was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday, quoted by Reuters.

The two countries have been deepening military and diplomatic ties with each other after their relations with the West soured.

A statement from the ministry on Telegram said crews from both sides were conducting joint tactical maneuvers and conducting exercises involving artillery and helicopters.

Xi Jinping arrived in Uzbekistan for his meeting with Putin

The tasks of the patrols include strengthening naval cooperation between Russia and China, maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, coastal monitoring and protection of Russian and Chinese maritime economic objects," the statement said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan to discuss Ukraine and Taiwan, among other topics.

It is the Chinese president's first trip abroad in more than two years.

The deepening "borderless" partnership between rising superpower China and natural resources titan Russia is a geopolitical development the West is watching with concern.

Russian and Chinese warships conducted their first joint patrols in the western Pacific last October, a move closely watched by Japan, which called the maneuvers "unusual."

military exercises