China and Russia to stage naval exercise BEIJING, March 29 (UPI) -- China and Russia will have a joint navy exercise within the next two months, a Chinese defense ministry official said Thursday. The war games are aimed at strengthening the Chinese-Russian military relationship, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said. "It's also designed to improve both countries' abilities to cope with challenges and safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," said spokesman Yang Yujun. China and Russia have conducted several joint military exercises since 2005, the report said.