Special report:   Peace Mission 2007

    CHELYABINSK, Russia, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A joint anti-terrorism military exercise, sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and slated for Aug. 9-17, will improve the joint anti-terror capabilities of SCO member countries, an Chinese expert said.

    Since the SCO was founded in 2001, the member states have not only been firm in cracking down on the three evil forces: terrorism, separatism and extremism, but also have been accumulating experience in facing new threats and challenges through a series of joint exercises, which improved the joint anti-terror capabilities of SCO member countries, Teng Jianqun, researcher of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told Xinhua.

    China has participated in 18 bilateral or multilateral joint anti-terror drills with the SCO members since 2002 to explore measures in fighting terrorism.

    The first joint military exercise that China carried out under the SCO banner was with Kyrgyzstan in October 2002.

    In August 2003, all the SCO members except Uzbekistan carried out their first-ever joint anti-terror exercise.

    In August 2005, China and Russia launched a high-profile 8-day military exercise in Vladivostok, Russia. The exercise, code-named "Peace Mission 2005," involved nearly 10,000 armed personnel, as well as airborne units, marine corps and logistics units.

    Those joint exercises have practical effects in coordination and command in anti-terror combats, Teng said.

    Besides, the exercises have improved the emergency mechanism of the organization in countering terrorist attacks, he added.

    The "Peace Mission 2007" drill, involving about 6,500 military personnel from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, are carried out in Chelyabinsk and Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    About 6,500 troops and 80 aircraft were expected to take part in the exercise, which will last till Aug. 17 in the Chebarkul range near Chelyabinsk.