Russia to participate in SCO joint drills in August

Over 800 Russian troops will take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) joint drills, "Peace Mission-2014," in China later in summer, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"Over 800 motorized infantry troops equipped with self-propelled guns, eight Mi-8 helicopters, four frontline Su-25 aircraft, two Il-76 transport aircraft and other units will participate in the Peace Mission 2014 anti-terror exercises," the eastern military district said in a statement.

The exercises were scheduled by the Russian, Chinese, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik military delegations in Beijing on Tuesday.

The five countries also agreed to hold the first ever festival of the SCO's military bands with the participation of over 230 musicians.

The "Peace Mission" drill is a series of joint anti-terrorism military exercises launched under the framework of the SCO, a regional organization founded in 2001, which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Last year, only China and Russia participated in the military exercises, which was held in Chelyabinsk in Russia's Ural mountainous region from July 27 to Aug. 15, 2013.