A guided missile destroyer and a supply ship left this southernmost Chinese island on Tuesday for a friendship visit to Russia, Britain, Spain and France.

Dubbed Guangzhou and Weishanhu, the two warships, belonging to the South China Fleet under the Chinese navy, will travel some 23,000 sea miles in 87 days, with nearly 500 officers and sailors aboard.

In the first leg to St. Petersburg of Russia, Chinese sailors will participate in the activities celebrating the "Year of China" in Russia.

The Chinese warships are also expected to launch a joint search and rescue maneuver on the sea with navy forces of Britain, Spain and France.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2007)