A flag-raising ceremony is held at the opening of the Exercise AMAN-2011 in Karachi, Pakistan, Mar 8, 2011. [Photo by Du Wenjuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

A multi-national naval exercise, in which twelve navies are participating, opens in a port in Karachi, Pakistan, today.

The Exercise AMAN-2011 (Together for Peace), aimed at enhancing cooperation between navies from different countries in fighting terrorism on the high seas, is joined by navies from Australia, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

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Wenzhou and Ma'anshan, two Chinese missile destroyers of the Chinese navy's eighth anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, will also participate in the five-day exercise.

"The Chinese navy has continued to participate in more exchange and cooperation activities in this area," said Han Xiaohu, commander of Wenzhou told chinadaily.com.cn.

"This exercise provides a cooperation platform for eastern and western navies. Faced by more threats on the sea, more international cooperation is needed," Han said.

"Participation of Chinese ships that come all the way to this part of the region, including Pakistan, indicates their resolve to counter piracy and other crimes at sea," vice-admiral and Commander of Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK) Abbas Raza told chinadaily.com.cn.

He also said Pakistan hopes that this exercise will "put up a joint and collective front against these multifarious crimes at sea" so that "when we operate on the high seas, we operate as a group."

It's the third time the Chinese navy is participating in the peace-themed multi-national exercise in the northern Arabian Sea area.