Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on Thursday that the ongoing Russia-China joint naval drill in the Baltic Sea is not meant to start a new military alliance.

The cooperation between China and Russia brings balance to the world, and it is not directed against anyone, said Putin. "We are not starting military blocs," he said. The drill started last weekend in the Baltic Sea

Putin spoke at a news conference in Punkaharju, a resort in Savonlinna, eastern Finland, which he was visiting for the centennial of Finnish independence.