(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-29 21:22

BEIJING _ A Chinese helicopter unit flew to Russia on Sunday to take part in a six-nation Central Asian anti-terrorism drill, a government news agency reported.

The 16 helicopters took off from a base in the Xinjiang region of China's northwest on a 2,700-kilometer (1,700-mile) flight, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The August 9-17 drill is being held by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, created by Moscow and Beijing to counter U.S. influence in oil- and gas-rich Central Asia. Other members are Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

A second stage of the exercise is due to take place later in Urumqi in Xinjiang.

The 1,600-member Chinese contingent is the biggest military unit to be sent such a long distance from China for military exercises, Xinhua said, citing its deputy commander, Qiu Yanhan.

Chinese troops arrived in Russia by train Friday, the first time People's Liberation Army soldiers have entered Russia for military exercises, according to Xinhua.

The helicopter unit will fly over the 4,000-meter-high (13,000-foot-high) Altay Mountains en route to Russia, Xinhua said.

"The flight will be a good test for China's army aviation troops due to its long distance, complicated topographic and climatic conditions on the way as well as possible language barriers with the ground service in Russia," Maj. Gen. Ma Xiangsheng, an officer in charge of the drill, was quoted as saying.

China is sending a total of 32 Mi-17 and Z-9 helicopters for the exercise, Xinhua said. It did not say when the remaining helicopters would leave for Russia.