SCO Begin Anti-terror Maneuvers in Kazakhstan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 12, 2003

SCO Begin Anti-terror Maneuvers in Kazakhstan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries started their joint anti-terrorism maneuvers in Kazakhstan's border city of Ucharal at 03:10 GMT Wednesday.

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Chinese senior officers said Wednesday that the large-scale joint anti-terrorism exercise conducted by the member countries of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) will improve their ability to co-ordinate their fight against terrorism and help guarantee regional security and stability.

They made these remarks in Kazakhstan's border city of Ucharal where the joint manoeuvre started yesterday.

Lieutenant General Li Qianyuan, head of the Chinese military delegation and Commander of the Lanzhou Military Command, said in an interview that the Chinese army will exchange anti-terror experience with troops of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and that they will discuss ways to work together to fight international terrorism.

The high-level military exercise shows that the SCO member states take the same stand and have the same determination to fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, Li said.

He also said it is an important for the SCO states to step up military co-operation, to further foster mutual trust among their armed forces, and to strengthen regional co-operation against terrorism.

The Chinese Government stands firmly against terrorism of all kinds, and calls for closer international co-operation and removal of the roots of terrorism, Li said.

He added that the exercise displays again China's determination and confidence in the fight against terrorism.

Lieutenant General Qiu Yanhan, commander of China's Xinjiang Military Command, said that a joint command staffed by military experts and officers of the five countries has been set up for the exercise.

Qiu expressed his belief that the manoeuvre, the largest since the establishment of SCO, will contribute to increasing co-operation and co-ordination of activities in fighting terrorism.

An official who is in charge of the foreign affairs office of China's Ministry of National Defence said it is the first time for the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) to take part in such a large-scale joint anti-terror exercise. This exercise represents one of the effective ways for member countries to carry out military exchanges and co-operation.

The official said that during the exercise, the leaders, commanders and soldiers from member countries would co-operate closely. It was also a chance for the PLA to display the calibre of its military.

He believes that the exercise will promote understanding, friendship, co-operation and development between the PLA and military forces of the other member countries.

The SCO was formed in June 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Following the success of a Sino-Kyrgyzstan joint anti-terror exercise held last year, the defence ministers from the five member countries of SCO signed, at the summit held in Moscow last May, a memorandum on conducting this joint anti-terrorist military exercise.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Set up in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, the SCO groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The SCO evolved from the initial mechanism of "Shanghai Five," which was officially launched in 1996. Five years later, to meet the demands of regional and multilateral cooperation due to changes in the international and regional situation, leaders from "Shanghai Five" plus Uzbekistan signed the Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, officially inaugurating the SCO.

The birth of the SCO, a significant development in modern international affairs, brings about a new security concept featuring mutual trust, disarmament and security cooperation. It also advocates new state-to-state relations and a new regional cooperation mode, deepening military trust and cooperation and enhancing cooperation in the fight against the "three evil forces"of terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.

The SCO aims to strengthen mutual trust and good-neighborly andfriendly relations among member states, encourage further effective cooperation in various fields, jointly ensure regional peace, security and stability, and help create a new international political and economic order featuring democracy, justness and rationality.

SCO heads of state meet once a year and heads of government meet on regular basis.

At the St. Petersburg SCO summit in June 2002, the six leaders signed the Charter for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which clearly defines the principle, organization and operation of the six-nation organization.

They also signed an agreement on the establishment of an anti-terrorism agency in the region and the declaration of presidents of the SCO members.

On May 29, 2003, leaders of the SCO issued a joint declaration in Moscow, pledging enhanced cooperation in politics, economics and trade, and culture.

On Oct. 10-11, 2002, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan held a joint anti-terror military drill on the border areas of the two countries. It was the first time for China to hold cross-border military exercises and also the first bilateral anti-terror exercises conducted by members of the SCO.

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