SCO anti-terror drills not directed against any third party
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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.
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