The Sino-Russia joint military exercise codenamed Peace "Mission 2009" will help guard the countries against terrorists, particularly after the July 5 Xinjiang riot.

Major General Wang Haiyun, a former military attache to Russia and an expert in international strategy, said in Beijing that as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and Russia's joint drill will help both countries protect core security interests against terrorists, separatists and extremists.

China just experienced the July 5 riot in Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region which killed at least 197 people and injured more than 1,700.