Russia, China settle all preparatory issues of military exercises

MOSCOW, June 30 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and China settled all preparatory
issues of the joint anti-terrorist exercises dubbed Peace Mission-2009,
there are no obstacles for the maneuvers, the head of the Russian military
delegation at the Russian-Chinese consultations for the preparations to
the military exercises and the deputy chief of the General Staff of the
Ground Troops, Lieutenant General Sergei Antonov told Itar-Tass by phone
on Tuesday.
"During the third round of the consultations, which are underway in
Baicheng, all preparatory issues of the Peace Mission-2009 drill were
settled," he said.
General Antonov also noted that five Chinese military trains had
brought the Russian troops to China in order to participate in the Peace
Mission-2009 exercises. "During the consultations the sides agreed to
dispatch the Russian troops in the area of the exercises near Baicheng and
the Qiqihar airfield. The transportation of the troops is scheduled to
launch on July 8, when the staff and military hardware will be loaded on
the first military train at the Gradekovo railway station of the Eastern
Railway near Ussuriisk. Our troops will march to the Gradekovo railway
station and will be immediately loaded on Chinese trains in order not to
reload military hardware," Antonov said.
"Five Chinese military trains should bring Russian troops and military
hardware to the destination railway station Heishui on the Harbin Railway.
All participants of the exercises should arrive at a firing ground by July
14," he added.
General Antonov praised highly China's preparations for the war games.
"During the examination of the drill area it turned out that the Chinese
side had done a huge amount of preparatory works. In particular, a perfect
field camp was build to accommodate Chinese and Russian servicemen. All
necessary conditions were provided for the lodging and training of
servicemen for the joint anti-terrorist exercises Peace Mission-2009,"
Antonov said.
According to him, a joint document will be signed at the end of the
third final round of Russian-Chinese consultations on July 1. After that
the Russian military delegation will return to the native country.
Antonov reaffirmed that the exercises will be held in Russia and China
on July 22-26. "The first stage of the exercises is military and political
consultations due in Khabarovsk on July 22, the second and third stages
are the launch of an anti-terrorist operation and practical actions of the
troops near Baicheng in north-eastern China on July 23-26. The aviation
will involve in the drill from the Qiqihar airfield," the head of the
Russian military delegation said.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of
China Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian heads the Chinese delegation at the
consultations. The first and second rounds of the consultations were held
in March and June, respectively in China and Russia.
On June 5, after the second round of the consultations in Khabarovsk
General Antonov told Itar-Tass that about 1.3 thousand servicemen and 20
airplanes and helicopters will participate in the Peace Mission-2009
exercise on each side.
"The heads of the military delegations from Russia and China agreed
that about 1.3 thousand servicemen would participate on the parity basis
from each side in the exercises. Meanwhile, Russia will involve a
reinforced motorized battalion and an airborne assault squadron from the
troops of the Far East military district staffed with military hardware
and armaments," Antonov said.
"In the exercises Russia will involve about 20 aircraft
(military-transport airplanes Il-76, attack planes Su-25, frontline
bombers Su-24, fighters Su-27 and helicopters Mi-8). China will involve
approximately the same number of aircraft," the general said.
-0-baz/gor