Chinese Navy flotilla docked at Karachi port on Wednesday to participate in 4th Pakistan Navy and People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) bilateral exercises encompassing harbour and sea phases.

The Chinese fleet includes ocean salvage and rescue ship Changxingdao and PLA-N ship Handan, which reached Karachi on a goodwill visit to Pakistan. Senior officials of Pakistan Navy and Chinese consulate were also present on the occasion.

A statement issued by navy's media wing said "these exercises are expected to go a long way in promoting maritime security in the backdrop of operationalisation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar port".

Meanwhile, on the direction of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) conducted a marine oil spill exercise BARRACUDA-VII.

The exercise was aimed at rehearsing the oil spill procedures and contingency mechanism, the navy statement added. The two-day long exercise had commenced on November 14.