The Tajik and Chinese militaries launched joint exercises in
Kulyab on Friday to improve coordination in countering possible
terrorist attacks.
More than 300 Tajik troops from the artillery, infantry and
airborne divisions, as well as a reinforced company of more than
150 Chinese troops, practiced a coordinated response to possible
terrorist attacks during the drills code-named "Coordination
2006."
The mountain warfare exercises were held under a memorandum
signed by the Tajik and Chinese defense ministers in Beijing in
April, to enhance the two sides' mutual trust and cooperative ties
as well as to maintain regional security and stability.
Before inaugurating the exercises, Tajik Defense Minister
Sherali Khairullaev met with Xu Qiliang, deputy chief of General
Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China.
They agreed to further boost their cooperation within the
framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), to
enhance the two militaries' ability to fight the "three evil
forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The SCO, established in 1996, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)
