Armed soldiers take part in the final stage of the Peace Mission 2007 counter-terrorism drill, sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural Mountains region, August 17, 2007.

　　The final stage of the joint drill, sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), was conducted Friday in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

　　"The units of all the armed forces involved in the drill performed successfully," Russian First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Belousov told reporters.

　　"All the objectives and tasks were fully met," he said.

　　The military exercises, involving virtually all kinds of troops from the six SCO member states, have helped enhance cooperation between them, he said.

　　The drill, which started on August 9, was first carried out in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and was held later in Chelyabinsk.

　　About 4,000 troops and 80 aircraft from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were involved in the joint exercises.

　　Leaders and defense ministers from the SCO's six member countries have observed the final stage of the joint drill in the Chebarkul military range near Chelyabinsk.

　　SCO member states have expressed the hope that the exercises would help intensify their exchanges and cooperation in defense and security, enhance the capabilities of their armed forces in collectively countering terrorism and promote regional peace, security and stability.