INS Shakti, INS Kolkata arrive in China's Qingdao port for multinational naval exercise
Multinational naval activities start in Qingdao for Chinese navy anniversary
Naval ships from Myanmar, India, France have dropped anchor at China's eastern coastal city of Qingdao to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
Two Indian battleships - INS Shakti and stealth destroyer INS Kolkata will be taking part in the naval exercise which begins on April 23rd, the day the PLA was formed.
On Monday, a warship from Myanmar arrived to join the armada equipped with air defence weapons made in China and France.
The grand naval exercise also includes vessels from Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. Reports said at least 20 vessels will be deployed during the naval drill.
Delegations from more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and Oceania will join the celebration, and over 30 countries will be sending naval leaders.
The Pakistan navy will not be present but top Pakistan naval officials will be present during the excercise.
China will be unleashing its naval power with the display of the first aircraft carrier - the Liaoning includingnuclear submarines and destroyers.
Japan's Akizuki-class destroyer Suzutsuki, Russia's Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate, Bangladesh's stealth guided missile corvette BNS Prottoy along withAustralian guided-missile destroyer HMAS Melbourne will also be taking part in the naval exercise.
Not justnaval force, air power will also be on display with bombers, fighters, carrier-based fighters, and carrier-based helicopters on display.