DUSHANBE, July 13, Asia-Plus — The member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will hold antiterrorist exercises Peace Mission- 2007 on July 27-August 4 at the Chebarkul Range of the Volga-Urals Military District.

The exercises will involve troops of Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Uzbekistan, a total of 6,500 servicemen and 80 aircraft, the deputy commander of the Russian Ground Troops, Colonel-General Vladimir Moltenskoi, told reporters on Thursday.

Russia will send to the exercises 2,000 military servicemen and 36 aircraft. Other 2,7000 servicemen will be engaged in logistic support.

China’s 1,700 army servicemen and 46 aircraft will take part in the exercises. Tajikistan and Kazakhstan will be represented by airborne companies and Kyrgyzstan by an airborne platoon.

Uzbekistan’s officers will be among supervisors of the exercises.

China’s servicemen will begin arriving at the Chebarkul Range on July 27, Moltensky said.

The Chinese contingent will be complete in the area of the exercises on August 4, he said.

He said China’s 45 aircraft were to fly 2,000 kilometers over Russia’s territory, including difficult 700 kilometers over mountain terrain. Trains with the Chinese servicemen will come to the area of the exercises on August 4, Moltenskoi said.