China, Russia to launch first joint military exercises
2/8/2005 16:11
China and Russia will hold their first joint military exercises on Aug.
18-25, China's Ministry of Defense announced in Beijing Tuesday.
In a press
release, the ministry said the exercises, dubbed "Peace Mission 2005", will be
carried out in Vladivostok in far eastern region of Russia and East China's
Shandong Peninsula and nearby offshore seawaters.
The exercises will involve
nearly 10,000 troops from the armies, navies, air forces as well as airborne
units, marine corps and logistic units of Chinese and Russian armed forces, said
the press release.
Chinese and Russian defense ministries signed a memorandum
on conducting joint military exercises in July 2004. The chiefs of the general
staffs of Chinese and Russian armed forces will announce the commencement of the
exercises in Vladivostok on Aug. 18.
China and Russia have invited the
defense ministers from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) and representatives from SCO's observer countries to watch the joint
exercises.
The holding of the maneuvers is in line with the guideline of the
UN Charter, and complies with the widely recognized international laws and the
respect of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of other
countries, said the press release.
"The exercises neither aim at any third
party nor concern with the interests of any third country," said the press
release.
The ministry said that the mission of the drills mainly aim to
deepen Sino-Russian mutual trust, promote mutual friendship and enhance the
cooperation and coordination of the two armed forces in the areas of defense and
security.
The joint exercises will also help strengthen the capability of the
two armed forces in jointly striking international terrorism, extremism and
separatism.
Through the exercises, the two armed forces can improve their
coordinated capabilities to handle crises and meet new challenges and threats,
said the press release.
Xinhua News
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