Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said yesterday the Russian-Chinese military exercise planned for next month should not be viewed as a source of concern for other countries.  

"If this arouses their interests or concerns -- whatever you call it, it's their problem," Ivanov, who is touring Russia's Far East, told reporters in Vladivostok, the Interfax News Agency reported.

Russia has been carrying out military exercises with the US, other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, India and Japan, he said.

"Why cannot we hold military exercises with China? ... We are good neighbors and our trade is growing. And we are strategic partners," he said.

The exercise, scheduled to begin on August 18 and last about a week, will involve Russian air refueling and early warning aircraft, Su-27SM fighter jets and naval vessels from the Pacific Fleet, Ivanov said earlier.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2005)