Chinese army hones transportation skills at SCO war games

MATYBULAK RANGE, Kazakhstan, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Long-haul rail transport undertaken by the Chinese army during the "Peace Mission 2010" war games had provided more valuable experience in large-scale movements during times of peace, a senior Chinese military official said.

Six contingents comprising nearly 1,000 troops plus 1,000 tons of materials and large amounts of military equipment were transported from China to Kazakhstan by rail, said Li Zhujun, deputy chief of the exterior liaison of the Chinese command of the military exercises.

Li said the difference in rail gauge between the two countries -- 2.98 meters in China, 2.87 meters in Kazakhstan, also gave the Chinese troops valuable practice in changing trains and loading and unloading equipment.

The Chinese side also built two 80-ton top-fixed platforms at Alashankou checkpoint on the Chinese border with Kazakhstan to facilitate the passage of tanks and other armored vehicles to be used in the war games, he said.

To make the trip more comfortable for troops, all carriages were air-conditioned and every contingent of troop carriages was attached with a dining carriage, Li said.

"By improving the quality of service and logistics in various links, we have created conditions for the soldiers and officers to devote themselves to the exercises in high spirits and full of vitality," Li said.

"Peace Mission 2010," the seventh joint drill of its kind, involved 5,000 troops from five of the six SCO member states -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan is not taking part in the drill, which runs between Sept. 9 and 25.

China has sent 1,000 troops, which include a ground force combat group, an air force combat group and a logistics group.