November 15, 2003	Saturday	Ramazan 19, 1424

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SHANGHAI, Nov 14: China and India embarked Friday on their first ever joint naval exercises off the coast of Shanghai as part of a drive to warm frosty ties.

Led by the NS Ranjit, a 5,000-tonne Russian guided missile destroyer, the INS Kulish, a guided missile corvette, and the INS Jyoti, a tanker, the Indian task force cast off from Shanghai at 9am.

Joined by two Chinese warships and helicopters, they will conduct five-hour search and rescue manoeuvres in the East China Sea before the Indian ships sail for home.

“The exercises, aimed at ensuring and improving coordination in search and rescue at sea, will be a stepping stone in enhancing inter-operability between the two navies,” India’s ambassador to China Nalin Suire was quoted as saying by the China Daily.—AFP