Aug 9, 2007, 8:11 GMT
Beijing - Troops from China, Russia and four central Asian nations began an eight-day 'Peace Mission 2007' anti-terrorism drill on Thursday.
Top military commanders from the six Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) nations finalized their strategies for the exercise in Urumqi, the capital of China's central Asian region of Xinjiang, China's official Xinhua news agency reported from the city.
About 6,500 soldiers and 80 aircraft from the six SCO nations will take part in the exercise in Urumqi and Russia's Chelyabinsk region, the agency said.
The drill by troops from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was 'not aimed at any third party,' Xinhua quoted China's chief of staff Liang Guanglie as saying.
'It does not concern the interest of any third party nor makes threat to any country,' Liang said.
China has sent 1,600 troops from its land and air forces for the war games, while Russia has provided 2,000 troops and 36 aircraft, the agency said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to visit Russia and attend the anti-terrorism drill by forces from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Hu is scheduled to travel to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan from August 14 to 18, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Hu will also attend a summit of SCO leaders in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, the ministry said.
The SCO was founded in 2001 as a security-led forum.
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