Chinese troops will depart for "Peace Mission 2021," a joint counterterrorism military exercise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, to be held in Orenburg, Russia, from September 11 to 25.

The participating Chinese troops are mainly from the Northern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, and consist of more than 550 personnel, and 130 vehicles and equipment, according to the information Xinhua obtained from the Ministry of National Defense on Friday.

The routine exercise within the framework of the SCO is aimed at deepening defense and security cooperation among member states, improving their ability to cope with new challenges and threats, and jointly safeguarding regional peace and security.

The SCO marks its 20th anniversary this year.

(Cover: Soldiers of the 74th Army Group of the People's Liberation Army take part in a battle drill in a coastal area of Guangdong Province on June 1, 2020. /Xinhua)