QINGDAO, Sept. 10 -- Two Chinese warships on Monday departed from Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, to join Australia and New Zealand navies in the first maritime exercises to be staged by the three countries.

    The three navies will drill on communications, fleet formation,vessel supply, and search-and-rescue during the two-day drill on the sea off Sydney, Australia, said Major General Zhang Xuezeng of the North China Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

    Shipborne helicopters will also drill on aerocade formation and record the exercises on the sea with cameras, according to Zhang.

    The two Chinese warships are guided missile destroyer "Harbin" and fuel tanker "Hongze Lake".

    The fleet with 483 crew members will also visit Australia and New Zealand.