The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) joint anti-terrorism
exercise concluded in Xinjiang Monday.
The exercise consisted of two phases, the first in Kazakhstan
and the second in China.
The first phase lasted three days and ended on August 8. The
second phase started on Monday. Coalition forces in the second
phase conducted a simulated fight against terrorists and a hostage
rescue operation, military sources said.
Coalition forces also practised indoor exercises, searching in
urban areas, hostage rescue, attacking terrorists' camps and joint
surrounding and annihilation of terrorists. Attacking terrorists
camps became this exercise's key task, military sources said.
Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and other heads of
military delegations of SCO members inspected the troops for the
joint anti-terrorism exercise.
Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a
State councilor said the drill was the first multilateral exercise
for SCO members.
During the exercise, the coalition forces displayed their
military competence and wrote a new chapter in the SCO members'
military cooperation as well as in the history of friendly
exchanges between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan, he said.
The drill also indicated the SCO members' solidarity, friendship
and cooperation in the maintenance of regional peace and global
anti-terror efforts.
(China Daily August 13, 2003)