International Army Games 2018: Contests in northwest China's Xinjiang boost military exchanges

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03:12

And part of the International Army Games 2018 are also underway in Korla, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Three contests will run one after another till August 11th. The 17 teams from 10 countries are all rivals, but out of competition, the troops participating are forming friendships with counterparts from other nations. CGTN's Zheng Yibing reports.

Fierce contests in the Gobi desert.

Rugged terraces and strict rules challenge the 358 participants from ten countries -- including China, Russia and Pakistan -- competing in the three games.

They all have but one goal, to win. The atmosphere is tense.

XU YOUZE CHIEF JUDGE FOR "SUVOROV ATTACK" "All teams pay great attention to the daily scores. They request statistics and take them back and analyze every detail for the next contests."

The contests in Korla began on Monday with individual games of "Suvorov Attack". This category tests the combat capabilities of Infantry Fighting Vehicle crews. It involves four legs: relay racing, an obstacle course, water crossing and shooting.

This was followed on Tuesday by "Clear Sky", in which air defense units fire at aerial targets, both while halted and in motion.

Chinese teams took an initial lead, but the outcome is still uncertain as the games will last until August 11th. The third contest "Safety Route" begins on Thursday. It will test engineering units trying to cross a minefield.

But the results of the games are not the only achievements.

ZHOU ZHIGANG COACH, CHINESE "SUVOROV ATTACK" TEAM "We broaden our horizons by training with foreign armies, and by comparing techniques, we also keep improving our training methods."

Amid the tense contests, there's also friendships being formed.

TODOROV ANDREY VASILEVICH RUSSIAN "CLEAR SKY" TEAM MEMBER "I can feel every team's determination to win this game. I'm grateful to have this chance to meet with Chinese soldiers. We also exchanged souvenirs with Chinese soldiers."

LIEUTENANT COLONEL OKLER YUSTIZ VENEZUELAN "SUVOROV ATTACK" TEAM COMMANDER "We've made friends with many Chinese soldiers during the games. We also want to use this game to show the friendship between Venezuela and China."

More than 470 referees are overseeing the games. They all took an oath at the launch of the games on Sunday to ensure the contests go smoothly, with every team having an equal chance of success.

ZHENG YIBING KORLA, XINJIANG UYGUR AUTONOMOUS REGION "Chinese army says that the contests will uphold the spirit of fighting, honor and cooperation, and will fulfill the commitment to professionalism, openness and fairness. And these are goals all the participants say they will strive for. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Korla, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region."