VLADIVOSTOK, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Chiefs of the general staff of the Chinese and Russian armed forces jointly announced the official commencement of the first Chinese-Russian joint military exercise, code-named "Peace Mission 2005", in Russia's Vladivostok at 11:00 a.m. local time (8:00 a.m. Beijing time) Thursday.

    Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and his Russian counterpart Yury Baluyevsky made the announcement in the base of Russia's Pacific Fleet.

    Twenty Chinese and Russian World War II veterans, ten from eachcountry, attended the lauching ceremony.

    The 8-day exercise will involve nearly 10,000 troops from the two armies, navies, air forces as well as airborne units, marine corps and logistic units, China's Ministry of Defense announced earlier.

    The holding of the maneuvers is mainly aimed to deepen mutual trust, promote mutual friendship and enhance cooperation and coordination between the two armed forces in the areas of defense and security. Enditem