Beijing, Moscow hail military ties

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By ZHAO SHENGNAN (China Daily) 10:30, August 16, 2013

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Chinese helicopters and Russian tanks take part in the Peace Mission 2013 joint counterterrorism drill at Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountains on Thursday.Qian Yunqiang / For China Daily

China and Russia hailed their high-level military collaboration and said they are planning more such exercises over the next few years, as they wrapped up their joint counterterrorism drill, Peace Mission 2013, on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army, said after simulated combat in the drill that both sides have made military exercises, bilateral and multilateral, regular events.

"After a decade of cooperation, I am confident that the two militaries are absolutely able to conduct joint combat under any conditions," Wang said.

The drill, which began on July 27 at Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountains, marks the ninth time the two countries have participated in a bilateral or multilateral exercises since 2003. It came less than one month after the two countries completed their largest naval drill, Joint Sea 2013, in Russia.

"The two drills are regular ones, which do not target any third party or threaten any countries' interests," Wang said.

The drill at sea helped the two navies improve their long-range capabilities, and the counterterrorism drill has shown the two militaries' determination to tackle new regional threats, he said.

"Such drills will continue. ... Both sides have been discussing plans for joint military exercises for the next few years, especially for next year, based on the experiences gained in the past," Wang said.

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