Chinese and Russian police on Thursday concluded a three-day joint anti-terrorist exercise in the suburbs of Moscow.

During the operation, the special forces from both countries successfully rescued hostages from hijackers in a hypothetical hostage-taking situation in an administrative building on the Chinese-Russian border.

"In the exercise, Chinese and Russian officers coordinated closely, exactly understood and implemented the command's instructions, completed tasks with competent military skills, hard work and flexible tactics," said Wu Shuangzhan, commander of Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

The "Cooperation 2007" exercise improved the anti-terrorism capabilities of the two countries' police and interior troops and deepened cooperation and friendship between the two countries, he said

The joint exercise, which was divided into three phases, involved in some 600 troops from the two countries. China's Snow Leopard armed police unit and a Russian special task force unit took part in the exercises.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2007)