China on Saturday, July 27, 2013, began to send military personnel and armaments to Russia, where they will join 20-day joint anti-terrorism drills held by both parties. The transfer of Chinese troops for the exercise will be completed by Aug. 2, according to Zhang Yan, deputy commander of the 646 Chinese military personnel participating in the drills.
The Chinese officers and soldiers will be sent to the drill venue in seven batches, with four traveling by air and three by train, Zhang said.
With 72 people on board, two Mi-171 military transport helicopters and four Z-9 armed helicopters from the Chinese side took off from an airport in Hailar in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Saturday morning.
They will travel more than 5,000 km with several stopovers and are expected to arrive at the drill venue in five days.
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