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Russian warships visit S China port
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-06 21:58

ZHANJIANG, Guangdong  -- Two warships of Russia's Pacific Fleet visited the south China port of Zhanjiang Monday after accomplishing an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.

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The Admiral Vinogradov submarine chaser and the Boris Butoma tanker would stay in Zhanjiang for five days, said a spokesman with the South China Sea Fleet with the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Officers of the two navies would visit each other's warships and hold a series of joint activities, including football and basketball matches, and a tug-of-war, the spokesman said.

It was the first time for Zhanjiang to host warships from Russia, he said.

The two warships would continue their journey back to Vladivostok after the visit, he said.

Around 20 warships from the navies of at least a dozen countries are participating in the anti-piracy operations off Somalia.

According to the U.N. International Maritime Organization, 120 attacks by pirates were registered in 2008, with 35 ships seized.