October 23, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 26, 1424

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BEIJING, Oct 22: Naval ships from China and Pakistan held a joint rescue drill on Wednesday in the East China Sea off Shanghai, state media said.

A Pakistan destroyer and a supply ship joined a Chinese frigate and supply ship in the “Dolphin 0310” exercise, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The drill was the first joint exercise between Chinese and foreign naval vessels in a “non-traditional security” field, the agency said.

The scenario involved an emergency rescue by naval ships after an out-of-control fire on board a civilian vessel.

Communications and air-sea rescue technology were also used in the drill, it said.

The Pakistani destroyer “Bubur” and its supply ship are on a five-day visit to China.—dpa

The exercise was jointly commanded by Vice Admiral Zhang Deshun, chief of staff of the East China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy and Commodore Shafi of the Pakistani Navy, adds APP.

In recent years, Chinese armed forces have stepped up their cooperation in non-traditional security fields both regionally and internationally, with the new security concept of “mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination”, said a leading officer with the Foreign Affairs Office under the Chinese Ministry of National Defence.

Babar, the Pakistani destroyer, and NASR, the supply ship, arrived here on Saturday under the command of Pakistani Navy Commander Tahir, for a five-day visit to China.