The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) joint anti-terrorism exercise concluded in Xinjiang Monday.

The exercise consisted of two phases, the first in Kazakhstan and the second in China.

The first phase lasted three days and ended on August 8. The second phase started on Monday. Coalition forces in the second phase conducted a simulated fight against terrorists and a hostage rescue operation, military sources said.

Coalition forces also practised indoor exercises, searching in urban areas, hostage rescue, attacking terrorists' camps and joint surrounding and annihilation of terrorists. Attacking terrorists camps became this exercise's key task, military sources said.

Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and other heads of military delegations of SCO members inspected the troops for the joint anti-terrorism exercise.

Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State councilor said the drill was the first multilateral exercise for SCO members.

During the exercise, the coalition forces displayed their military competence and wrote a new chapter in the SCO members' military cooperation as well as in the history of friendly exchanges between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, he said.

The drill also indicated the SCO members' solidarity, friendship and cooperation in the maintenance of regional peace and global anti-terror efforts.

(China Daily August 13, 2003)