China, Russia to hold joint military exercise in Ningxia

China and Russia will conduct a large joint military exercise next month in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, according to Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

Wu said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday afternoon that more than 10,000 troops from the People's Liberation Army's Western Theater Command and the Russian Armed Forces' Eastern Military District, as well as multiple types of aircraft and land weapons from both sides, will take part in the West Joint-2021 exercise, which will begin in early August and last several days at the PLA Ground Force's Qingtongxia Joint Tactic Training Base.

The Chinese and Russian militaries will organize a joint exercise headquarters for the operation and will verify both sides' capability of working together to safeguard regional security and stability.

Troops involved in the exercise will test and hone their abilities and skills in performing reconnaissance, early-warning alerts, electronic strikes and joint assault operations, Wu noted.

He said the exercise is intended to strengthen the nations' bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, deepen cooperation and friendship between the two militaries and display the two sides' determination and capability of cracking down on terrorism and protecting regional peace and security.

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said on Wednesday that China and Russia will firmly safeguard the core interests of their countries, uphold global justice and protect regional security and stability as he met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.

The two nations need to communicate about their stances, build consensus, intensify cooperation and coordinate actions in dealing with changes in the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia and in suppressing terrorism, Wei said.