The Chinese and Indian military forces will hold a joint anti-terror military training from Dec. 6 to 14 in India, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The two armies will each dispatch an infantry company to take part in the joint training, code-named "Hand in Hand 2008", in south India's Belgaum District, said the ministry spokesman Huang Xueping.

The group of 137 troops from the Chinese side arrived at the training camp in Belgaum on Thursday after eight hours' flight by two military transport planes, and a brief welcoming ceremony was held at the airport by the Indian side.

Chinese troops prepare to get aboard at airport in Kunming, southwest?China's?Yunnan Province on Thursday. [Xinhua Photo]

The joint training is being carried out according to the Memorandum of Understanding for Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Defense signed in 2006 and is listed in the annual exchange plans for 2008 after discussion of the two sides, Huang said.

The joint training was intended to enhance mutual understanding and trust and advance the development of relations between the Chinese and Indian armies, he said.

"The time of the training was set previously and the joint training has no specified background and is not aimed at any third parties," he said.

The nine-day joint anti-terror military training will include display of weapons and equipment, communication of tactics, joint training and a comprehensive drill.

The two countries held their first joint anti-terrorism military training in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province last year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)