The picture provided by Egyptian Armed Forces shows Egyptian and Pakistani naval forces are carrying out maritime training across the Mediterranean during the visit of Pakistani warship (SAIF PNS) to Egypt on Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua)

CAIRO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and Pakistani naval forces conducted on Thursday drills in the Mediterranean Sea, official news agency MENA reported.

"The drills meant to exchange expertise in order to promote maritime security and stability in the region," Egyptian armed forces said in a statement.

The giant Pakistani military ship SAIF PNS along with the Egyptian naval ships conducted exercises including inspection of ships and exchange of helicopter takeoff and landing, it added.

Egypt has started joint military exercise with the Unites States known as "the Bright Star" on Saturday at a military base in Egypt's seaside province of Alexandria.

Scheduled to be held from Sept. 8 to Sept. 20, the military manoeuvres include land, naval and air forces from Egypt, the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, in addition to other 16 states that participate as observers.