QINGDAO, Aug. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Warships of the Russian Pacific Fleet arrived in the eastern China port city of Qingdao Friday, inpreparation for Sino-Russian joint military exercises scheduled for August 18-25.

    The warships left Russia for China on Sunday to take part in the first-ever joint exercises, dubbed "Peace Mission 2005".

    These ships include the Marshal Shaposhnikov anti-sub ship, anda large landing craft. A company of marine corps also arrived aboard the ships.

    On Thursday afternoon, eight Russian warplanes arrived in Qingdao airport, including an A-50 long-range early warning plane,a Su-27 fighter plane, a Su-24 tactic bomber, a Il-78 aerial refuling plane and four Il-76 transporters.

    Alexander Goncharov, a senior Russian air force officer, told Xinhua that "The preparation work is being undertaken as scheduled."

    The exercises will involve in nearly 10,000 troops from the armies, navies, air forces as well as airborne units, marine corpsand logistic units of Chinese and Russian armed forces, China's Ministry of Defense announced earlier.

    The ministry said that the mission of the drills mainly aim to deepen Sino-Russian mutual trust, promote mutual friendship and enhance the cooperation and coordination of the two armed forces in the areas of defense and security. Enditem