China's top legislature on Saturday voted to approve a multilateral treaty on joint military exercises.

The pact, signed by defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Kyrgyzstan on June 27, 2007, was submitted by the State Council, or Cabinet, to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

The treaty covers issues involved in military exercises, including authorizing institutions, decision making, consulting mechanisms, compensation of losses and judicial issues.

It took interim effect on June 27, 2007, which guaranteed the success of the "Peace Mission-2007" joint anti-terrorism military exercises held by the SCO from Aug. 9 to 17, 2007.

The SCO, founded in 2001, has six members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It aims to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and judicial cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2008)