China, US to hold joint military drill

BEIJING - Chinese and US armies will stage a joint military drill featuring rescue and disaster alleviation in southwest China from Nov 13 to 18, China's military spokesperson Wu Qian told a press briefing on Thursday.

A total of 134 land forces from the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army and 89 from US Pacific forces will take part in the drill at a training base in the Southern Theater Command in Kunming, Yunnan Province.

The drill will be carried out in line with the consensus reached by the two armed forces, and the participants will undertake humanitarian rescue and disaster reduction operations at high altitude, Wu said.

The spokesperson also confirmed salary rises for Chinese servicemen, saying it would inspire them to perform their duties better.