A flotilla led by China's first aircraft carrier has set out from the port city of Qingdao for what the military called "a routine training mission," the country's Defense Ministry said after a report emerged that the vessel would also make an unprecedented port call to Hong Kong early next month.

The ministry said Sunday that the flotilla, led by the Liaoning carrier, includes the destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan, the frigate Yantai and a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters.

It said the training mission, "like previous ones, is expected to strengthen coordination among the vessels and improve the skills of crews and pilots."