MOSCOW, March 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russian-Chinese military exercises dubbed Peace Mission 2009 will be held in the summer in northeastern China, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The first bilateral counterterrorist exercises Peace Mission were held in Russia and the eastern Chinese province of Shandong in August 2005, involving warships, aviation, and over 10,000 servicemen including marines and paratroopers.

"The final decision on the date, venue, name and forces involved will be made at bilateral consultations to be held in the last 10 days of March," a ministry source said.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said Tuesday that joint maneuvers were aimed at developing a strategic partnership between Russia and China.

The agreement to hold the exercises was reached at last year's meeting between the two countries' defense ministers.