Coast guard agencies from six countries in the northern Pacific, including China, will begin a joint maritime drill at Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday as part of a multilateral forum to foster cooperation among participating states.

The multilateral drill, including an artillery firing exercise, is intended to boost collaboration in such activities as preventing terrorist attacks, searching for ships in distress and clearing oil spills, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported.

The drill, which involves ships and aircraft from maritime law enforcement agencies, will help to protect the marine environment and resources, as well as address challenges in the region, observers said.