Chinese, Kyrgyz troops cooperate in anti-terror drill

About 700 border defense troops from China and Kyrgyzstan took part in a live-fire anti-terrorism drill in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Tuesday.

Code-named Tianshan III, the drill took place in a mountainous area in the Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, which borders Kyrgyzstan. It was conducted as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's goal of improving anti-terrorism cooperation.

The drill tested the ability of border defense units from China and Kyrgyzstan to jointly handle intensified threats as terrorist organizations continue to penetrate Central Asian countries, send trained members back to their home countries and smuggle firearms.