SCO anti-terror drills not directed against any third party: defense ministry

Joint drills aimed at combating terrorism are not directed against any third party and do not infringe upon other countries' interests, China's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Bilateral and multilateral anti-terror drills conducted within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are an important part of SCO member states' cooperative security efforts, said Geng Yansheng, a spokesman from the National Defense Ministry.

The seven joint anti-terror drills held so far have proven that the practice is important in deterring separatism, extremism and terrorism, cementing trust and understanding between the armed forces of member states and enhancing the capability of those states to tackle new threats and challenges, Geng said.

"Future joint drills will be richer in content and more diversified in form," Geng said. "Member states are discussing future joint military drills. We are confident about further security and defense cooperation between SCO member states," he said.

During a meeting of SCO member states' military chiefs, which was held in Shanghai on Monday, Geng said that the purpose of the meeting was to further strengthen SCO member states' cooperative security and defense.

"Member states agreed to coordinate their efforts to combat the 'three evil forces' of separatism, extremism and terrorism in a bid to maintain regional peace and stability and promote common development and prosperity," Geng said.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Source: Xinhua

	Weekly review     April 20   Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail to remove luxury seats   April 18   China undergoing shift into nation of consumers April 18   Zhejiang checks food, raids illegal bun makers April 19   SASS: Chinese students mentally healthier than Asian peers April 23   The week in pictures April 19   Build legal bulwark against moral decline April 21   'China model' 30 years on: from home to abroad April 21   Piano student's bloody crime heart-wrenching in China April 18   China places firmer lid on home prices April 19   China puts brake on economic bullet train