Six member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held their second round of consultation in Shanghai on Wednesday through Friday to prepare for a joint anti-terror military exercise in 2007 in Russia, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Representatives of the six countries' defense ministries participated in the meeting and conferred on a series of important issues concerning the preparation and implementation of the military exercise in a sincere and friendly atmosphere.

The consultation was hosted by Zhang Qinsheng, deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Participants from the six countries agreed to hold another round of consultation for the arrangement of the military exercise in early March in Russia.

During a SCO defense ministers' meeting in Beijing in April last year, the six SCO member countries announced to stage a joint anti-terror military exercise in 2007 in Russia.

In October last year, the six countries held their first round of consultation in Moscow, and surveyed the site for the military exercise.

The SCO, founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, aims to promote regional security and fight against terrorism. It groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)