The "Peace Mission 2010" joint anti-terror drill is a thorough implementation and a comprehensive test of the agreement on holding joint military exercises signed by members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Chinese military expert said Sunday.

Warplanes fly during a live ammunition field drill of the "Peace Mission 2010" at the Matybulak training range in Kazakhstan Sept 18. [Xinhua]

Major General Zhu Jianye, legal adviser to the Chinese command participating in the drill, told Xinhua that the agreement provides institutional, standardized and practical guarantees for holding joint military exercises by the armed forces of SCO all members.

In June 2007, SCO defense ministers signed an agreement on conducting joint military exercises, after they discussed the new challenges and threats to regional peace and stability.

"The signing of the agreement is a milestone in the history of the SCO," Zhu said.

According to the agreement, the purpose of joint military exercises is to combat the three "evil forces" -- terrorism, separatism and extremism, and maintain peace, security and stability in the region.

The document provides for legal restrictions on troops participating in the joint military exercises, he said.

The commitments included in the document will help dispel a host country's all possible misgivings and fend off possible misinterpretations from outside, he said.

"Through the exercise, the Chinese military officers and soldiers have enhanced their awareness of observing foreign-related laws," Zhu said.

The SCO has conducted a number of joint military exercises since 2002.

"Peace Mission 2010," the seventh joint drill of its kind, involved 5,000 troops from five of the six SCO member states -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan -- from Sept. 9 to 25. Uzbekistan is not taking part in the drill.