SCO to hold anti-terrorism drill in Kazakhstan
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An anti-terror exercise under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be held in Kazakhstan from Sept. 9 to 25, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng announced Thursday.
The drill, "Peace Mission 2010," would be the seventh of its kind, Geng said.
More than 5,000 troops from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan would be involved, he said.
Geng said the exercise aimed to demonstrate SCO member states' determination and capacity to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, showcase their mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation, and the shared wish to protect regional peace and stability as well as to boost common development and prosperity.
About 1,000 personnel from the land and air forces of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) would take part in the exercise, Geng said.
Chinese armed forces have participated in anti-terrorism drills under the framework of the SCO, which includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, since 2002.
The chiefs of staff of the armed forces of the participating countries would announce the launch of the drill in Almaty in Kazakhstan, and defense ministers from the SCO's member countries would observe, said Geng.
