BY : shanghaidaily

CHINA'S army helicopter forces yesterday flew to Russia for a joint anti-terrorism drill run by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Sixteen helicopters took off from northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for a 2,700-kilometer flight to the drill venue, said Major General Ma Xiangsheng, one of the top Chinese officers in charge of the drill.

This is the first time the People's Liberation Army has entered Russia for a military exercise.

"The flight will be a good test for China's army aviation troops due to its long distance, complicated topographic and climatic conditions on the way as well as possible language barriers with the ground service in Russia," Ma said.

"The formation will fly over Altay Mountains with an altitude over 4,000 meters when it crosses the Sino-Russian border, which demands full technical preparations," Ma said.

"The unit has carefully studied the map, made several counterplans and loaded the helicopters with sufficient aviation materials to ensure a successful flight," he said.

China will send 16 Mi-17 transportation helicopters and 16 Z-9 armed helicopters to Russia.

The "Peace Mission 2007" drill will be carried out in Chelyabinsk in Russia and in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.

The six members of the SCO - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - will stage the joint anti-terrorism drill from August 9 to 17. It will involve 6,000 military personnel, including 4,700 Russian soldiers and 36 aircraft.

An advance troop of China's People's Liberation Army flew to Russia on Friday. The advance troop comprises seven units, including command and logistics corps, and its main task is to make preparations for the main force's arrival.

Also on Friday, the first group of China's main force for the drill arrived at Manzhouli, a border city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and transferred to a Russian military train for the journey. The main force of China's 1,600 troops set off by train on July 19 from Xinjiang, along with armaments needed for the drill, passing through Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, already covering more than 5,300 kilometers.

It will take about another week for the main force to arrive. Fuel, water, food and security will be provided by the Russian military. The Chinese forces come from the army and air force, including airborne and logistic units, according to the Ministry of Defense.

"This is the first time the PLA has sent so many soldiers and armaments so far," said Qiu Yanhan, deputy commander of the Chinese contingent.

The exercise will help strengthen ties between the militaries of SCO members and enhance cooperation in security, said Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission.