Russia to participate in SCO joint drills in China

Over 800 Russian troops will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) joint drills, "Peace Mission-2014", in China later this year, the Russian defence ministry said Tuesday.

"Over 800 motorised infantry troops equipped with self-propelled guns, eight Mi-8 helicopters, four frontline Su-25 aircraft, two Il-76 transport aircraft and other units will participate in the Peace Mission 2014 anti-terror exercises," Xinhua quoted the eastern military district as saying in a statement.

The exercises were scheduled by the Russian, Chinese, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik military delegations in Beijing Tuesday.

The five countries also agreed to hold the first ever festival of the SCO's military bands with the participation of over 230 musicians.

The "Peace Mission" drill is a series of joint anti-terrorism military exercises launched under the framework of the SCO, a regional organisation founded in 2001, which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Last year, only China and Russia participated in the military exercises.