A fleet of Chinese Coast Guard vessels made a historic entry into the Arctic Ocean recently in joint patrols with the Russian Coast Guard. The significant operation marked the first time that Chinese Coast Guard ships have ventured into Arctic waters, China Coast Guard said on Wednesday.

The joint operation comprehensively tested the coast guard's ability to carry out missions in unfamiliar waters and provided strong support for actively participating in international and regional maritime governance, it said in a statement.

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Since Sept 21, the Chinese and Russian Coast Guard fleets have been conducting joint patrols in the Northern Pacific region, further strengthening their maritime partnership.