Turkey, China conduct koint air maneuvers

The Turkish and Chinese militaries recently conducted a joint aerial exercise in central Anatolia, the first such exercise involving the two countries' air forces. The joint exercise was part of Turkey's Anatolian Eagle maneuvers, which have so far been carried out jointly with the US, Turkey's NATO allies, and Israel. It took place sometime this month in the central Anatolian province of Konya, where Anatolian Eagle maneuvers traditionally take place. Turkish F-16s and Chinese SU-27s and Russian-made MIG-29s took part in the exercise, staging a mock dogfight in central Anatolian airspace. The exercise comes ahead of a planned visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Turkey next month, which officials say will boost relations to a new level. During Wen's visit, the two sides are expected to sign several agreements on economic and cultural cooperation.