TOULON, France, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese naval vessels sailed out of port on Tuesday after wrapping up an 87-day four-nation European tour and were heading for the Mediterranean for a joint naval exercise with France while on their way back home.

The guided missile destroyer Guangzhou and the supply ship Weishanhu left the southern French port city Tuesday morning after traveling more than 23,000 nautical miles, calling at Russia's St. Petersburg, Britain's Portsmouth, Spain's Cadiz and France's Toulon.

The two ships, under the command of Major General Su Zhiqian, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy, will then participate in a joint naval exercise with the French navy, code-named "China-France Friendship 2007," in the Mediterranean Sea.

Exchanges and cooperation between the two navies have entered anew stage through the Chinese warships' four-day visit to Toulon, during which members of the naval top brass exchanged visits, and reciprocal ship tours, sports contests, military music performances and reception parties were held.