An advanced unit of Russian armed forces arrived at a military base in northwest China's Jilin Province Thursday to prepare for a joint exercise with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The advanced unit is headed by Major General Kachan, chief of Russian Far Eastern Military District's air defense forces, and has ten personnel responsible for commanding aviation, parachuting, artillery, communications and logistics units.

They will make preparations for the 1,300-member Russian force which will take part in the five-day anti-terrorism military exercise code-named "Peace Mission-2009" to start on July 22.

The Russian unit was met by Major General Gong Jicheng with the PLA's Shenyang Military Command at Jilin's Baicheng train station where they were transported to the PLA's Taonan tactic training base.

Chinese and Russian defense authorities announced Wednesday that the two states, both members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, will jointly conduct the exercise.

Chiefs of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and the People's PLA General of the Army Nikolai Makarov and Gen. Chen Bingde will hold strategic talks in Russia's Khabarovsk on July 22.

About 1,300 personnel from the army and air force of each side will participate in the exercise and Russia will also send an airborne assault unit, according to the Defense Ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)