YOG kicks off in Nanjing
Colorful life at Youth Olympic Village of Nanjing 2014 YOG
Royal Taoist temple to open to public
Female soldiers at quake-hit area
Shocking photos of cruel battles in Ukraine
Amphibious armored vehicle unit conducts open sea drill
Water relay in Henan
Ethnic culture feasts eyes of travelers
80 security dogs assembled in Nanjing police dog training base
Graffiti artists paint on street walls in Xinjiang
An upcoming anti-terror drill to be held among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) does not indicate that it is becoming a military alliance, a senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer stressed on Wednesday.
"The SCO is a regional international organization in adherence to the principles of being non-aligned, non-confrontational and not targeted at any third party," said Wang Ning, chief director of the drill and deputy chief of the PLA general staff.
Cooperation among the member states aims at boosting mutual trust, maintaining regional stability, promoting the economic development of the region and member states, and building a new international economic and political order that is fair and rational, he added.
The Peace Mission-2014 anti-terror drill will be held from Aug. 24 to Aug. 29 among troops from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at the Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The drill aims at deterring terrorist forces including the East Turkistan Islamic Movement and improving the competence of member state troops, according to Wang.
A total of 7,000 troops from the five countries has been dispatched to participate in the drill, which will involve ground and air forces, special operations and airborne troops and others tasked with electronic countermeasures, reconnaissance, mapping and positioning.
Drones, airborne early warning aircraft, air-defense missiles, tanks and armored vehicles will participate.
"It's the first time that so many troops and so much weaponry have been deployed in joint drills under the SCO frame," said Wang.
Founded in Shanghai in 2001, the SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers. Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.
Beautiful night scenery of Nanjing
Passenger transport starts on Tibet's new railway
Story of outstanding Beijing swat sniper
Beautiful policewoman in an anti-terrorism SWAT team
Cute photos of little Taoist nuns and monks go viral online
Amphibious armored vehicle unit conducts open sea drill
A post-90s girl who takes grandma to work
Beijing policewomen posters become a hit
The vanishing folk skills
Intoxicating beauty of Dali, Yunnan province
Memorable moments of Ludian earthquake
Bring world together to help elephant
'Building Dreams'
Labrang MonasteryDay|Week|Month