BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday declined to confirm media reports that China and Russia will hold a joint military exercise in the Sea of Japan next year, but praised the role of such drills in safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Russian media reported over the weekend that Russia and China will hold the "Peace Mission 2011" joint drill, involving land, sea and air forces, in the Far Eastern Sino-Russian border region and waters of the Sea of Japan.

China and Russia had conducted several such exercises bilaterally or under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular briefing.

"Those drills, which were designed to improve responsiveness to new threats and challenges, deepen bilateral strategic coordination and expand military ties, strengthening both sides' capabilities," she said.

All the exercises contributed to safeguarding regional peace and stability, she said.