Article Posted on : - Jul 31, 2010

Members of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA)

BEIJING (PTI): Over 1,000 Army and Air Force personnel from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) will take part in an anti-terror exercise in Kazakhstan this autumn by the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The 'Peace Mission 2010' exercise would be the 7th of its kind held under the SCO framework, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told reporters here Friday.

It would also be the largest military exercise involving the PLA and troops from other countries this year, Geng said.

He did not specify exactly when the exercise would be held.

Geng said the exercise is aimed at demonstrating 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.

Six countries including China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are the members of the SCO.