A missile destroyer of the Chinese Navy and a frigate of the British Navy held a joint rescue exercise in the sea area off Qingdao City in east China on Sunday.

The Chinese destroyer Qingdao and the British frigate HMS Monmouth carried out drills on communications, maneuvering, and offshore rescue.

During the exercise, a helicopter from the British frigate rescued an "injured sailor" from a wrecked vessel to the HMS Monmouth with its winch, while a helicopter from Qingdao sent cables and technicians to the wrecked ship.

Over 500 Chinese and British Navy officers and soldiers participated in the offshore exercise, which lasted more than three hours.

The HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 Duke Class frigate, has been on a nine-month long global tour. On September 12, it arrived at the Qingdao Port after visiting 19 ports of 12 countries. It will also visit Hong Kong.

The British warship is traveling alone, not accompanied by any supply ship.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)