China and Pakistan kicked off a joint anti-terrorism drill in Qingtongxia in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Saturday.

The drill, code-named "Friendship-2010," is the third of its kind between the two countries. More than 200 people, including soldier participants and military spectators, attended the opening ceremony of the drill.

The joint exercise is of profound and far-reaching importance in consolidating the friendship between the two countries and armies, upgrading their capabilities in fighting terrorism together and safeguarding regional peace and stability, said Wang Guosheng, commander of China's Lanzhou Military Area Command, at the opening ceremony.

He said the drill would also help promoting military understanding and mutual trust, enhancing military exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Lieutenant General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army, said Pakistan and China had all-weather friendship, which could transcend borders and have enjoyed popular support.

He said the drill showed the two countries' determination to combat the "three forces" -- referring to extremism, separatism and terrorism.

China and Pakistan held their first-ever joint anti-terrorism exercise, "Friendship-2004," in Xinjiang's Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County bordering Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. About 200 border soldiers from both sides participated.

The second joint anti-terror military drill, "Friendship-2006," was carried out in the hills of northern Pakistan's Abbottabad. More than 400 soldiers from both armies took part.